Physics of WATER
Name________________________
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
a. Watch the video clip on sound movement through
matter.
b. Draw the movement of molecules through a solid,
liquid, and gas.
c. Rank the states of matter sound travels from fastest
to slowest.
d. Write a prediction as to why sound travels faster in
one medium versus another.
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?
i.
What are two possible reasons as to why animals in
the marine environment make sounds?
3. Pressure
j.
Watch the video clip with the steel can being taken
down 20 meters below sea level. (1 min 40 sec)
k. Draw what happens as a result.
l.
Write a prediction as to why this occurs with the steel
can.
Observations/Results/Pictures
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.
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)
CONCLUSIONS
x. How do marine organisms use sound in the ocean?
y. What happens to pressure, temperature and light as the ocean increases in depth?
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.
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).