Speed/Velocity to Ellis Island – Then and Now
Minimum 1 1/2 pages maximum 4 pages TYPED
Calculate the speed/velocity of a trip by boat in the early 1900’s from the country of birth
of a relative to Ellis Island and compare it to a trip by plane from that same country to
Newark Liberty Airport today. Assume the distances are the same. Do research-get actual
mileage, ship speeds and plane speeds (how about the Concorde?) Include wind speed,
ocean currents, stopovers, etc? Comment on the impact of technological advancements in
transportation. This is the minimum requirement for the paper.
Besides calculating the numbers, picture yourself on that boat in the 1900’s and the plane
in 2000’s. What factors affected each trip? Think about security checks since 9/11.
How easy was/is it to move between countries? Think about legal/social/economic
factors that affect the trips. See if you can relate advancements in science and technology
to some of those factors. Be creative.