Lab Investigation: “Mapping a Mountain”
Name
Partner
Period
Date
Background: Mapmakers use different methods to represent the shape of the land
surface on maps. The most common method uses lines called contours. This
type of map is called a contour or topographic map.
Hypothesis: If water is added to a container to known, measured, heights then it will be
possible to construct an accurate contour map of a landform model and
interpret the features of the map..
Materials: plastic container, model of volcano, water, 1000 ml beaker,
food coloring, fine tip marker, transparency sheet, white paper, tape,
plastic stirrer, pencil
Procedure:
#1 Check the side of the plastic container for a measurement strip in 1 cm intervals.
#2 Fill the beaker to the 1000 ml mark. Add several drops of dark food coloring
(red, green, blue) and stir to dissolve evenly.
#3 Tape the transparency sheet to the top of the plastic lid so the model is
completely covered when the lid is on the container.
#4 Remove the plastic lid & transparency from the container. Add colored water to
the container and volcano model until the water reaches the 1 cm mark.
#5 Replace the lid securely. Standing directly over the container trace all the way
around the volcanic mountain following the line where the water touches the model.
#6 Continue adding water by 1 cm amounts and tracing the water line all the way around
the mountain each time. Take your time and trace the lines carefully.
The last measurement will be at 7 cm. Do not go over the 7 cm mark!
#7 When you are finished with the measurements empty all the water from the model
container into the sink. Rinse the model and dry lightly.
#8 Remove the transparency sheet from the lid. Tape the transparency
sheet and paper to a window and transfer your map using a pencil. Mark
the top of the volcanic landform map with a capital N for north and the bottom
with a capital S. (Neatness does matter!!!)
#9 Discard the transparency sheet when you are finished.
Analysis & Conclusions:
Answer each question with complete sentences and information. Please us a slightly
different color font or leave space between your answer and the question. Remember, you
will be printing a hard copy of this and it must be legible!
#1 Now you need to apply a scale to the map and identify the contours!
a. Assume each centimeter on the model equals 100 meters on the ground.
b. Label each contour with the correct value starting with zero at sea level
c. Write the scale in the lower right hand corner of your map
#2 Decide on a name for your map and write it neatly near the top of the paper.
#3 Select any line drawn around the volcanic mountain on your map. What is true
of the elevation of every point along this line? Why?
#4 Why should every line on your map be a closed loop?
#5 Why would the line around the base of the volcanic island be considered a contour line?
#6 What is the difference in elevation or interval between each contour line? Between the
highest and lowest contour lines?
#7 Does the contour line with the highest value represent the elevation of the
volcanic mountain? Explain your answer.
#8 On which side of the island are the contour lines the closest together? farthest
apart?
#9 Contour lines that cross valleys or ravines bend out of line with the rest of the contour
loop. Do your contour lines bend upstream or downstream when they cross the valley
or ravine? Explain!
#10 Using all the information you have compiled from your analysis of the contour map
you & your partner created, compose a definition for topographic maps.
Now brainstorm as many rules or guidelines as you can think of to explain how
to use a Topographic map. Please number each separate rule.
#11 Now using graph paper and your map make a profile of your island. You will be
following directions provided on pages 56 -57 of the textbook. Attach both your map and
profile to the final hard copy of your lab!