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In this activity, learners create a map of a hidden surface using a "sounding stick" -- a technique similar to how underwater maps were once made. The hidden surface is created using plastic tubing inside of a Teaching Tank (a very narrow tank that is commercially available), and the sides of the tank are covered. A "sounding stick" made from either a dowel or drinking straw is used to measure the depth at 2" increments, and the points are graphed to create a profile map. Learners repeat the activity and reduce the increment (increasing the number of samples) to create a better resolution. Modern echo-based devices like sonar have made this technique less necessary, but it's still useful for understanding sampling and imaging.
- 5 to 10 minutes
- 10 to 30 minutes
- Over $20 per group of students
- Ages 4 - adult
- Activity, Model
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- Teaching Tank
- Masking Tape
- Construction Paper
- Marker
- Ruler
- Stiff Wire (Old Hanger)
- Sounding Stick
- 3/8-Inch Plastic Tubing
- Graph Paper
- Colored Pencils
Subjects
-
Earth and Space Science
-
Earth Structure
- Oceans and Water
-
Earth Structure
-
Engineering and Technology
-
Engineering
- Ocean Engineering
-
Engineering
-
Mathematics
-
Data Analysis and Probability
- Data Collection
- Data Representation
-
Measurement
- Units of Measurement
-
Data Analysis and Probability
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- Gathering Data
-
The Scientific Process
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All rights reserved, American Educational Products, LLC, 1996