Problem:
Understanding how dinosaur tracks were formed
Materials:
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2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water
Large mixing bowl
Spoon
Paper plate
Experiment:
1.
Pour the flour and the salt into a bowl and
mix with the spoon.
2.
Slowly add the water to the flour and salt;
stir until all the water is mixed in.
3.
Pour the "mud" onto the paper plate. Use
the spoon to spread the mud evenly over the
plate.
4.
Wet one of your hands with water.
5.
Spread the fingers of the wet hand and
press the palm side of that hand into the mud.
6.
Remove your hand. You should see a good
print of your hand. Place the plate on a flat
surface where it will not be disturbed.
7.
Allow the mud to dry. It may take two to
five days depending on the temperature and
humidity of the air.
Results
The mud dries, leaving a hard print of the shape
of your hand.
Why?
The mud moved out of the way as we pressed our
hands into it. The same thing happens to soft mud
or sand when animals walk on it. If the imprint
made in the mud is not disturbed before it dries,
a hard print of the animal's track forms. Dinosaur
tracks have been found in places where these
prehistoric animals walked in soft mud or sand.
These rare tracks remained because they were
covered with layers of dirt and sand before the
rest of the footprints were destroyed by winds,
rains, or the pressure of other animals walking on
the dirt. In time the deposit hardened into rock,
and the track was trapped forever.