Physics of WATER
Name TEACHER KEY
Directions: Follow the directions in the left column and record all observations, data, and pictures in the right
column.
Physical Properties of Water
1. Sound
Observations/Results/Pictures
a. a . Visit www.Discoveryeducation.com
a. Watch the video clip on sound movement through b.
matter.
c.
b. Draw the movement of molecules through a solid,
liquid, and gas.
(Note you will need to have an account)
Search for the following video: Real World Science: Sound-The
Medium Affects How Quickly Sound Travels. The clip is about
3 minutes.
c. Rank the states of matter sound travels from fastestd. If you do not have a discovery education account, you can use
the following Youtube video. Sound in a Solid, Liquid, and Gas.
to slowest.
Show clip between 1:40 min to 1:57
d. Write a prediction as to why sound travels faster in
one medium versus another.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9QIgY5_8ok
b.
c. Solid = Fastest; Liquid = Slower; Gas = Slowest
d. Answers will vary - Sound moves the fastest in a solid
because the molecules are compacted the closest together.
Therefore, as sound vibrates one molecule, it will
immediately bump into a neigboring molecule. This pattern
continues as sound moves through a solid. Sound moves the
slowest in the gas because when sound hits a gas molecule, it
takes longer to bump into another molecule because the
distance between two gas molecules is greater than in the
solid.
2. Animals & Sound
e. Watch the three video clips on the pistol shrimp,
echolocation (dolphins), and the humpback whale.
f.
Explain the structure and the function of the claw.
(drawings may assist you in this process)
g. Describe echolocation.
h. What do you think the whale is trying to do in the
video?
e. Visit the following Youtube videos to show the clips on the
pistol shrimp, echolocation (dolphins) and the humpback
whale.
Pistol Shrimp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC6I8iPiHT8&feature=ch
annel (1:40 minutes)
Echolocation (Sounds echos and Dolphins – 2:12 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYiCzWZ8cBs
i.
What are two possible reasons as to why animals in
the marine environment make sounds?
Humpback Whale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WabT1L-nN-E (3 min)
f. The one claw of the pistol shrimp is larger than the other.
The bottom half of the larger claw is able to cock back and
then slam against the top half of the claw. This causes a
series of bubbles to form. When the bubbles collapse, it
creates a shock wave that will stun the shrimp’s prey.
g. Answers will vary. Possible answers may include talking to
another whale in the area, talking to the people, or just
singing for fun.
h. Answers will vary. Possible answers may include talking to
another for various reasons, such as sending warning sounds
to others, find a mate, or to get food.
3. Pressure
j.
Watch the video clip with the steel can being taken
down 20 meters below sea level. (1 min 40 sec)
j. Visit the following Youtube video to show the clip about the
steel can taken down 20 meters below sea level.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEnJITnn_4U
k. Draw what happens as a result.
l.
Write a prediction as to why this occurs with the steel
can.
k.
l. Answers will vary. Possible answers may include that
pressure increases as the depth of the ocean increases.
Therefore, the can becomes crushed due to the increased
pressure on the sides of the can.
4. Temperature
m. According to the temperature profile, what happens
to the temperature of the ocean as depth increases?
n. Predict what the ocean’s thermocline is.
Distribute the illustration of the thermocline in the ocean.
(This graphic is included in the Physics of Water-Pictures and
Readings handout or can be located at the following web
link).
http://my.opera.com/nielsol/blog/2007/08/16/ocean-watermixing
m. As the depth of the ocean increases, the temperature
decreases.
n. Answers will vary. Possible answers may include that the
thermocline is located between 100 and 200 meters deep in
the ocean, and this is where the temperature of the ocean
drops dramatically. Students may also include that the line on
the graph looks like an incline.
5. Light in Water- Refraction:
o. Drop a pencil in the beaker of 50 mL of water. Look at
it through the side of beaker.
p. Draw the results and write your observation.
q. Predict why this occurs.
6. Light in Water- Why is the ocean blue?
r.
Read the handout ‘Why is the ocean blue?’
s. Explain why the ocean is blue and include a drawing
to further illustrate your answer.
7. Light & the Ocean Zones
t.
Read the handout “Light and the Ocean Zones.” If
possible, read the following web link for a more
detailed explanation of light and the ocean zones.
http://www.mbgnet.net/salt/oceans/zone.htm
u. Name and describe the 3 major light zones of the
ocean.
v. Draw the ocean, label the 3 zones, and state the
depth of the zones in meters.
w. Predict and explain how an Aphotic zone organism is
reddish in color? (Hint: see box #6)
o. Give each group a 100mL beaker with 50mL of water and 1
pencil.
p. When looking at the pencil from the
side of the glass, it looks crooked.
q. Answers will vary. Possible answers may
include that the light reflecting back from the pencil in the air
(gas) and the light reflecting back from the pencil in the
water (liquid) is at two different speeds.
r. Distribute “Why is the Ocean Blue?” handout included in
the “Physics of Water-Pictures and Readings” attachment.
s. Blue light travels the deepest in the ocean than any other
color. Therefore, it is the color that is scattered and reflected
back.
t. Distribute the “Light and the Ocean Zones” handout
included in the Physics of Water-Pictures and Readings
handout or can be located at the following web link).
http://www.mbgnet.net/salt/oceans/zone.htm
u.
Sunlight (Photic Zone) - the first 200m. (600 ft). This zone has
plenty of sunlight and many organisms. Plants and plankton
live in this zone as photosynthesis can occur.
Twilight (Disphotic Zone) - lies between 200 m. and 1000 m.
(Between 600 and 3,000 ft). A small amount of sunlight can
penetrate the water. Plants do not grow here. Animals that
live here have adaptations to survive the small amount of
light present.
Midnight (Aphotic Zone) - there is no sunlight. Pressure is
high and temperature is near freezing.
v. See this website for the answer to include a graphic:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/ocean/sunlit/
w. Since the red wavelength does not penetrate below 200
meters, there is no red light to reflect back to the eye.
Therefore, one cannot see the red organism.
CONCLUSIONS
x. How do marine organisms use sound in the ocean?
Marine organisms use sound in the ocean in order to communicate, find food, find a mate, and warm off
predators.
y. What happens to pressure, temperature and light as the ocean increases in depth?
Pressure increases, temperature decreases, and light decreases.
z. In a well-developed paragraph, answer the following question: Explain why a marine organism that lives in one zone
of the ocean cannot easily move into another zone. Support your answer with the data you collected related to
pressure, temperature, and light. See the attached rubric below to assist you in composing a well-developed and
supported answer.
Sample of a 4
Marine organisms cannot move easily from one zone into another due to major differences from one zone to
another zone. One reason they cannot move up or down is because pressure changes. For example, if an
organism lives in the Photic Zone, it is adapted for a certain pressure. If the organism were to dive past 200
meters, the pressure change is so great, that the organism would be crushed. A second reason a marine
organism cannot move from zone to zone easily is due to temperature differences. At the surface of the
ocean, the water, on average is about 27°C. If a marine organism goes below 100 meters, the temperature
drastically drops to 11°C and below, in which the organism is most likely not adapted to such cold conditions.
Lastly, the third reason marine organisms cannot move from one zone to another is due to the amount of
light available. There is much more visibility above 200 meters, and therefore, most marine organisms in the
Photic Zone rely on sight to hunt or escape from predators. If the marine organism entered the Aphotic Zone,
they would become more vulnerable to becoming prey or not be able to hunt. Therefore, a marine organism
cannot move easily from one zone to another due to the many differences in pressure, temperature, and
light availability.
Paragraph Grading Rubric
Expectations
1
2
3
4
Introduces topic in
topic sentence
Paragraph does not
include a topic
sentence or
introduce the
topic.
Paragraph includes an
opening sentence but
does not adequately
introduce the topic.
Paragraph includes a
topic sentence that
introduces the topic.
Paragraph includes a
topic sentence that
introduces the topic
and “hooks” the
reader.
Provides support
using details from
text
Paragraph does not
include support for
the topic.
Paragraph includes little
support for the topic using
few or no details from the
text.
Paragraph includes
adequate support for
topic using details from
the text.
Paragraph includes
ample support for
topic using details
from the text.
Provides
conclusion
Paragraph does not
include a
concluding
sentence.
Paragraph may not
include a concluding
sentence.
Paragraph includes a
concluding sentence
about the topic.
Paragraph includes a
concluding sentence
that restates the
topic.
Uses gradeappropriate
conventions and
grammar
Paragraph has
many errors in
conventions and
grammar, impeding
the ability to
understand the
written work.
Paragraph is written with
several errors in gradeappropriate conventions
and grammar.
Paragraph is written
with few errors in
grade-appropriate
conventions
(capitalization,
punctuation, and
spelling) and grammar
(complete sentences
with varied sentence
structures).
Paragraph is written
with no errors in
grade-appropriate
conventions
(capitalization,
punctuation, and
spelling) and
grammar (complete
sentences with
varied sentence
structures).