Student 1 (YOU) ________________________________
Student 2* ________________________________
Date __________/ ____________ / _________
Student 3* _______________________________________
*Student 2 and 3 blanks are for group member names ONLY. Every student will complete a lab write-up.
Cephalopod (Jet) Propulsion Lab
Pre-Lab Questions
1. Jet propulsion is the typical method of ___________________________ in cephalopods.
2. Cephalopods use some other common methods of swimming which include the use of:
3. Explain the process of jet propulsion below.
4. Label the squid diagram below.
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5. Label the mantle diagram below.
Cephalopod (Jet) Propulsion Lab
Materials
•
•
Stop watch
(per group)
o 1 Balloon
o Monofilament line (approximately 3 m long)
o Two strips of stiff paper approximately 1 cm x 1 cm, or a drinking straw
o Tape (masking tape)
o Two chairs
o A small paper clip, or small binder clip
o String, yarn, crepe paper, streamers, or ribbon
o Pictures, or diagrams of squid
Procedure
1. You and your partner(s) will design a squid with the supplies based on your knowledge of how squid
swims.
2. You will have approximately 20 minutes to create your squid.
3. Your squid must have 10 arms/tentacles and 2 fins of some sort.
4. You or your partner should inflate the balloon, and while holding the end, twist it and attach the paper
clip or other type of clip. (Do NOT tie the balloon!)
5. After observing the diagrams of squid, try to make your balloon look as much like a squid as possible
using the markers, string, ribbon, etc.
6. Once the squid are created, they are ready for the races! Stretch the line across the room. Instructions
will be provided about tying your line off.
7. You may either tape the straw pieces or paper strips (as per the diagram) to your “squid’ and thread
them on the line.
8. Races will be timed, and the distance will be measured. You will the calculate speed at which your
squid traveled.
a. Speed = Distance / Time
9. Complete data chart with each group’s distance, time, and speed. Graph data when all data has been
collected and calculated.
Group
Distance
Time
Speed
Overall Ranking
Longest
Distance
Fastest
Speed
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Reflection
10. Based on your group’s ranking, how do you think your “squid’s” design impacted the distance of
travel?
11. Based on your group’s ranking, how do you think your “squid’s” design impacted the speed of travel?
Cephalopod (Jet) Propulsion Lab Data Graph
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