Measuring Lava Flow
Students measure lava flowCopyright http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Tair_Mountain_-_Lava_flow.jpg
Students learn how volume, viscosity and slope are factors that affect the surface area that lava covers. Using clear transparency grids and liquid soap, students conduct experiments, make measurements and collect data. They also brainstorm possible solutions to lava flow problems as if they were geochemical engineers, and come to understand how the properties of lava are applicable to other liquids.
Many types of engineers must understand the properties of liquids, including how they behave differently depending on their volume, viscosity and slope. This applies directly to geoengineers who devise ways to divert the flow of lava if it becomes a hazard to people and communities. It also applies to engineers who design factory equipment that bottles liquids, everything from motor oil and glue to orange juice and milk, and chemical engineers who create plastics, fuel and ceramics.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Understand and describe how volume, viscosity and slope (of the substrate) affect the surface area that a fluid covers.
- Understand that lava behaves like other fluids in the liquid state of matter.
- Gather evidence and data to logically support or disprove a hypothesis.
- Calculate the area of irregular shapes by counting squares and partial squares.