Question

14. Several days after a snowfall, the roofs of some homes on your street have almost no snow on them, while the roofs on other homes are still snow covered. Assuming they have all received the same amount of sunlight, give one reason for this observation related to thermal energy and insulation.

Answer 1

Different houses have different coverings on their roofs. Shingles absorb the heat into the tar which heats up melting the snow. Houses with metal covering may still have snow on the roof. Another possible reason may be the angle of the roof. A roof with a less angle allow the snow to slide off the roof easier, as a roof with a larger angle would not allow the snow to slide off and hence snow remains on the roof