Glacier flow and factors that impact rate – Teacher
Note: This activity can be done either as an Inquiry based activity lab or as an Interactive
Learning Demonstration, which is presented after the inquiry lab explanation.
Both experiments need a ready supply of Glacier Goo, aka… flubber
Recipe for Glacier Goo- note: follow this exactly otherwise gloppiness may occur! The Glacier
Goo can be stored for a few months in an airtight container. It is better to make as many smaller
quantities as you need to assure the “mix just right.”
Mix A
1 cup white glue (like Elmer’s
Glue)
¾ cup warm water
Mix B
2 tsp Borax
½ cup warm water
1. Combine the ingredients in mix A in a ~20 oz cup (or bowl)
2. Combine the ingredients in mix B in an ~8 oz cup (or bowl)
3. Pour mix B into mix A and knead with hands for 5-10 minutes until most of the water is worked into the
mixture
PVC piping works well to simulate a valley. 4 inch piping can be cut into 24 inch
sections and then split lengthwise to form a valley. They can be held up at an angle
using a ring stand and clamp. Each group will need 3 PVC valleys.
The following experiments are based on two factors. One group will determine the effect
temperature has on glacier flow and the other will determine the effect surface friction has on
glacier flow. Groups can be assigned similar or different tasks.
Effect of Temperature groups are provided with three samples of Glacier Goo; one at room temperature,
one frozen and one hot (a microwave should be made available to heat the sample), 3 PVC pipe, inclined
valleys, and 7 small plastic beads to act as movement markers.
Effect of Surface Friction groups are provided with 3 samples of room temperature Glacier Goo, 3 different
PVC pipe, inclined valleys, different surface material to lay inside the piping, such as sandpaper, aluminum
foil w/oil, and water, and 7 small plastic beads to act as movement markers.
Melting Ice and Sea level rise
Inquiry based Laboratory Experiment- Student
Glacier Goo Inquiry ExperimentYou will be assigned one of the experiments to design and perform, however, both teams have the same
pre-lab Homework and will share their data at the end. Your experiment must follow proper experimental
design. You will analyze your data, share your analysis, and draw a conclusion regarding the effect
various factors have on glacier flow rate and do so by submitting a formal lab report
Pre-lab Homework:
 Define the following types of glaciers, in your words, using the following link:
o http://nsidc.org/glaciers/questions/types.html
o mountain glacier, valley glacier, piedmont glacier, tidewater glacier.
 Can a valley glacier ever be considered a tidewater glacier? Explain
If tidewater glacier melt can contribute to sea level rise, what happens if the rate they are moving and
melting increases. What contributes to the rate of their movement? To answer this, we will simulate a
glacier and simulate variations of environmental factors that could change the glacier’s rate of flow.
Experiment # 1Design an experiment that addresses the following question:
How does temperature change the way a glacier flows?
Your experiment should use the glacial goo and at least 3 inclined “glacial valleys.” Be sure to put the
small beads across the glacier perpendicular to the flow.
Before you begin:
Play with the glacier goo a little bit. What are its characteristics? What happens when you pull it slowly,
hit it, bounce it, pull it quickly? When the goo is in the glacial valley how does it flow? What shape did the
front of the glacier take as it flowed down valley?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Experiment # 2
Design an experiment that addresses the following question:
How does friction change the way a glacier flows?
Your experiment should use the glacial goo and at least 3 inclined “glacial valleys.”
Be sure to put the small beads across the glacier perpendicular to the flow.
Before you begin:
Play with the glacier goo a little bit. What are its characteristics? What happens when you pull it slowly,
hit it, bounce it, pull it quickly? When the goo is in the glacial valley how does it flow? What shape did the
front of the glacier take as it flowed down valley?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Experiment design must include:
 Prediction:
 Materials needed
 Independent variable
 Dependent variable
 Constants





Procedures
Drawing of set up
Data table
Graph
Conclusion
Melting Ice and Sea level rise –ILD Student
Interactive Learning Demonstration(ILD)
Glacier flow and factors that impact rate- Student handout
Explanation of demonstrations: Glacier goo will be placed at the top of 6 different
inclined PVC valleys. Three will have the goo at three different temperatures; room, hot
and freezing. Three will be at room temperature, but on different surfaces: sandy, rocky
and oily. Each will have beads placed in a line formation and each will be timed as they
progress downward.
In your science journal, write your first predictions to the following questions:
How will temperature affect the flow of the glacier?
How will surface friction affect the flow of the glacier?
Class discussion: the class will discuss their predictions and reasons for them.
You, the student, now have the opportunity to change your prediction based on classroom
discussion. If you are not changing your first prediction, record the words “No change
after class discussion.”
In your science journal, write your second predictions to the following questions:
How will temperature affect the flow of the glacier?
How will surface friction affect the flow of the glacier?
Nature Speaks: Teacher performs demonstration and students record all observations as
if this was their experiment in a data table similar to the one below.
Observations for Temperature:
Incline set up
Temperature of Glacier Goo
A
Frozen
B
Room Temperature
C
Warm
Observations
Nature Speaks: Teacher performs second demonstration and students record all
observations as if this was their experiment.
Observations for Surface Friction:
Incline set up
Type of Surface
A
Sand Paper
B
Plain
C
Oil
Observations
Melting Ice and Sea level rise –ILD Student
Questions to contemplate for our wrap-up discussion:
What part of the goo flows the fastest? Why?
How might glaciers speed up?
Do you know what a glacier moulin is?
What would happen if you poke a straw through the top of one of your glaciers and squirt
a little water in the straw? (This will be done by the teacher)
How might water reach the base of a glacier in reality?
What does this tell you about glaciers?
Why is it important for scientists to find out how fast glaciers move?
Why would someone in Boston or Miami care about how glaciers flow?
Wrap-up and Conclusion:
Read the article, “Lakes of Meltwater Can Crack Greenland’s Ice and Contribute to
Faster Ice Sheet Flow” from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute found on the
following web page:
http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=7545&tid=282&cid=40786&ct=162
From the article, from what you saw and from what you heard, write a one-page
summary of the factors that affect glacier flow and ice sheet melting and why this should
concern you.