~Land Subsidence~

Research Question

How does removal of ground water impact the surface of the earth?

Materials

Class demonstration in graduated cylinder (Procedure 1)

beaker (Procedure 1)

gravel (Procedure 1)

cotton balls (Procedure 1)

kitty litter (Procedure 1)

plastic tube (Procedure 1)

soil (Procedure 2)

container (Procedure 2)

balloon (Procedure 2)

 

Procedure 1

Write a hypothesis and then make observations about what happens when ground water is removed from the water table. Make observations, inferences, conclusions, inferences about conclusions, and recommendations.

Hypothesis:

If...

Then...

Observations:

Inferences:

Conclusions:

Inferences About Conclusions:

Recommendations:

Teacher Notes for Procedure 1

Place gravel on the bottom of the cylinder.

Insert a plastic tube along the side of the cylinder into the gravel.

Fill the cylinder 1/3 full of water.

Loosely place cotton balls into the cylinder, and fill it to about 6 inches from the top.

Be sure that the water level is above the level of the top of the cotton.

Cover the cotton with kitty litter.

Mark the top of the kitty litter.

Start a siphon using the plastic tube in the gravel.

Procedure 2

Using, the soil, balloon, and container, design a second demonstration about subsidence. Write a hypothesis below, and then make observations about what happens when ground water is removed from the water table. Make observations, inferences, conclusions, inferences about conclusions, and recommendations.

Hypothesis:

If...

Then...

Observations:

Inferences:

Conclusions:

Inferences About Conclusions:

Recommendations:

Research Question for Procedure 3

Why is Houston, Texas so heavily affected by subsidence?

Procedure 3

On a separate sheet of paper draw or design a foundation that your small lab group believes would withstand the stress of subsidence.

Links

 

Source: Earth Changes; by Joyce Ramig , T.H. Rogers Middle School, Houston I.S.D. and Mike Bradshaw, Hartman Middle School, Houston I.S.D. Contributed by A. Miles and S. Vance, Rice Model Science Laboratory, Houston, TX.