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Slip Sliding Away: Glacier Dynamics

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  1. Pour 75 mL water into the glue
  2. Stir thoroughly with craft stick--scrape bottoms and side while stirring
  3. Splash Borax solution into the glue mixture while stirring continuously until it begins to pull together
  4. Squeeze it with your hand and keep incorporating Borax solution until liquid is almost all mixed
  5. Pat dry with a rag towel (NOT paper towels)
  6. Set aside on the wax paper

1. 100 mL glue

2. 75 mL water

3. 55 mL saturated Borax solution

STEP 1--Measure

STEP 2--Mix

Glacier Goo Video is on YouTube and icedrill-education.org

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Explore How Glaciers Move

�Place your glacier goo in a mound on your table or on the top of an overturned cup

  • With a vis a vis pen, draw 3 lines on your goo
  • Sketch your glacier in your notebook
  • Take a slow motion movie or several photos over 5 minutes
  • Draw arrows on your sketch to show how the glacier moves

�

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  1. Invert one of your cups
  2. Place your goo on top
  3. Draw 3 lines with your vis a vis pen or a marker
  4. Set up a time lapse video on your phone if you have that option OR take a few pictures as you observe its movement
  5. Predict what you think will happen.

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Setting up the Elevation Model

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What Variables Can We Test with this Model?

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Explore �the Materials

Materials available

U-shaped valley

Elevation “legs”

Sandpaper

Spray oil

Toothpicks

Blue goo

White goo

Red goo

Markers

�

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​

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With your group…

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  • Decide the question you will test given the available materials.
  • Set up your experiment.
  • Make a hypothesis.
  • Collect data in your notebook for at least 3 tests of your hypothesis.
  • Conclusion: Our data suggests...

Questions to consider:

  1. Does the center top of the glacier move faster, slower or the same as the sides?
  2. Does the top surface of the glacier move faster, slower or the same as the bottom?
  3. How does a lubricated bed affect glacial speed?
  4. How does elevation affect the speed of the glacier?
  5. How does a rough bed affect glacial speed?

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Teacher Set-Up�“Goo-ing with Bill”

Glacier Goo Directions

https://icedrill-education.org/portfolio/slip-sliding-away-exploring-glacier-dynamics/

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