http://www.teachengineering.org/view_lesson.php?url=collection/duk_/lessons/duk_perm_usman_less/duk_perm_usman_less.xmllessontext/xmlThe Other Water CycleEngineering K-Ph.D. Program, porositypermeabilitystorm water runoffhydrologyPermeabilityPorositySedimentRunoffAsphalt EstuaryFor students that have already been introduced to the water cycle this lesson is intended as a logical follow-up. Students will learn about human impacts on the water cycle that create a pathway for pollutants beginning with urban development and joining the natural water cycle as surface runoff. The extent of surface runoff in an area depends on the permeability of the materials in the ground. Permeability is the degree to which water or other liquids are able to flow through a material. Different substances such as soil, gravel, sand, and asphalt have varying levels of permeability. In this lesson, along with the associated activities, students will learn about permeability and compare the permeability of several different materials for the purpose of engineering landscape drainage systems.
Landscape engineers and civil engineers must consider the permeability of the ground around major construction projects when designing drainage systems. Carefully planned systems can reduce pollution due to runoff and prevent flooding.
Identify different materials based on their level of permeabilityIdentify which materials (permeable vs. impermeable) would be better for development or agriculture in various (urban vs. rural, coastal vs. inland) settings and whyDescribe how pollutants concentrate and runoff over non-permeable surfacesDescribe some human impacts on environmentLearn how to link anthropogenic pollutants and contaminants to local environmental issues such as water quality and estuary health Describe how non-permeable surfaces cause runoff and affect the health of local watersheds TeachEngineering.orgUsman Zaheer (Creator), Duke UniversitySherry McGauvran (Co-Author), Duke UniversityS1028457North_CarolinaScience3.06 Evaluate ways in which human activities have affected Earth's pedosphere and the measures taken to control the impact: Vegetative cover. 66S102845CNorth_CarolinaScience3.07 Assess the use of technology and information systems in monitoring lithospheric phenomenon.66S102845DNorth_CarolinaScience3.08 Conclude that the good health of environments and organisms requires:<br />• Monitoring of the pedosphere.66S10284BDNorth_CarolinaScience1.06 Use mathematics to gather, organize, and present quantitative data resulting from scientific investigations:<br />• Measurement.77S1028574North_CarolinaScience3.07 Describe how humans affect the quality of water:<br />• Point and non-point sources of water pollution in North Carolina.88United StatesCopyright 2012 - Engineering K-Ph.D. Program, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke Universityhttp://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2008-09-266Teacher