Final Reflections

EQ: Why does the world look the way it does?

Answer: The World looks the way it does because of Erosion. Though, Natural disasters do have a say in this, the four types of erosion ( Water Erosion, Wind Erosion, Chemical Erosion and Glacier Erosion ) make a big difference.

     The first and biggest type of erosion, water erosion makes a difference, by digging ditches and canyons in the land. the water soaks into to sand and pushes the sand out into a big pile earth and sand at the bottom of the current. One example of this process is, the Wadi Degla, the Grand Canyon, and other valleys and canyons. In our experiments, we tested both: the water slowly falling on to the sand, and when the water quickly pours on to the sand. And when we used the bucket with the small hole it eroded the sand slowly and made a mini canyon. But, when we used the bucket with the big hole the water poured out quickly and went straight over the sand, without make a single sign in the smooth sand. This shows that water erosion happens depending on the force of water pushing on the eroding land. Finally, when we tried to control the and stop the water from flowing down into the bucket by building a damn, neither of our damns held. though, it may be possible control water flow, our makeshift weaker damns weren't able to hold four ounces of water.

     The second type of erosion we tried was wind erosion. This type of Erosion makes a big difference in how the world looks. The process of wind erosion makes rocks look the way they do, this is because ( Especially in the dessert ) the wind drives and picks up the sand and dirt in the air and rams it into rocks, causing the rocks to chip off a small piece of stone. Eventually, the rocks are a lot smaller than they used to be and most probably have a different shape than before. But, the wind can only carry the sand so high, so the bottom of the rocks are often thinner than the top of the rocks. these rocks are called, mushroom rocks. In our experiments, we tested blowing on a land form with a straw, and blowing on it with a wind gun. When we blew on it with a straw and the wind gun, the dry sand blew up in our face, along with the fake trees. But, when we blew on the wet sand near the pond, it hardly moved at all. This shows, that when wind blows on wet sand it has a weaker effect then when blown on dry sand.

Wind Erosion: Experiment Two- Wind Gun

Wind Erosion: Experiment One-Straw

Wadi Degla Field Trip

When we went to the Wadi Degla, it took a second to believe that the canyon had once been a river, and before that an ocean.Dr.Bill had told us that there had been ancient Megalodons and basilosaurus.
That means that most of the desert in Egypt was all ocean, a sea of crazy monsters who were three times as big as a school!

   Another thing we learned at the Wadi, is that the world looks the way it does because of water erosion. The water slowly pushes land and dirt away making a ditch or canyon in the surface. this is why there is shells, fossil and bones in the Wadi! In the MIDDLE OF THE DESERT!!

   One thing I found really interesting, since I did a Informational book on Air Pollution, that global warming wasn't only caused by us. Dr.Bill told us that through out the years, there has been Climate Change. This caused all the ancient waters and oceans to dry out, which caused the extinction of the Basilosaurus and the Megalodon, and other cool sea creatures and whales.

   All the rocks in the Wadi, are Limestone and Calcite. When we put acid on the floor and rocks, the acid bubbled and sizzled. This shows, that when calcite and limestone mix with acid, it causes the acid to bubble up.

   The fossils in the Wadi were pretty cool, me and my friends spent a half hour scanning the ground for ancient bones and shells of extinct species! I wonder why these shells and bones were stuck in rocks? I mean, if the limestone was brought there by water after the previous ocean was there ( which is what, then why are all the shells and bones in rocks?

   In all, the trip to the Wadi was a great success, since I got to learn about landforms, go on a hike with my friends, and find loads of cool fossils!

   Me and Vladimir talking.

   
   









                                                                                                                                Dr. Bill teaching us





                                                                             
Us Partying in the bus

                                                                                       

Water Erosion: Experiment Four- Aquatic Engineer- Damn

Question: Is it possible to control the flow of water?

Hypothesis: I think that it is possible to control water by using a damn.

Materials: 1ruler, one bucket with big hole, 5 sticks, 2 wood pieces, 4 cups of water, 1 tray with hole at the end, 1 bucket to collect the water.

Procedure:
1. Set up experiment by: having one side higher than the other, a ruler holding up a cup that the water was falling from, and a hole at the end of the tray where the water came out from.
2. we built damn to stop water from coming down

3. We poured the water into the cup with the hole, so the water would slowly spill onto the sand and erode it.

Observation:
1. 40 seconds then the water broke through damn
2. The damn slowed the water, but still let it pass
3. hole forming under bucket
4. canyon forming in front of damn
5. Tunnel dug by water under damn.
https://youtu.be/wpwB_H0ZrCw
Conclusion:
The damn slowed the water but was quickly destroyed.

Water Erosion: Experiment Five- Aquatic Engineer- Reinforced Damn

Question: Is it possible to control the flow of water?? 

Hypothesis: Yes it is possible by using a damn.

Materials: 1ruler, one bucket with small hole, 5 sticks, 2 wood pieces, 4 cups of water, 1 tray with hole at the end, 1 bucket to collect the water, 6 small plastic glasses, 5 paint brushes

Procedure:
1. Set up experiment by: having one side higher than the other, a ruler holding up a cup that the water was falling from, and a hole at the end of the tray where the water came out from.
2. we reinforced the built damn to stop water from coming down.

3. We poured the water into the cup with the hole, so the water would slowly spill onto the sand and erode it.

Observation:
1. 20 seconds and water has not passed
2. 40 seconds and water has not passed
3. 60 seconds and small hole has formed under bucket
4. 2 minutes past and there's big hole under bucket, no water passing
5. 2:20 the damn is still holding
6. 2: 30 the water is stuck in the ditch
7. 3:20 and the pool of water is spreading
8. 4:20 water is starting to cover more sand
9. 4:40 more water poured in and nothing changing
10. the water is getting really high, covering more sand
11. 5:50 water barley coming out of ditch
12. 7:00 more water coming down
https://youtu.be/9EpAPvlF81Y
Conclusion: the damn held for 7 minutes, but then the water slowly came down.

Virtual Reality Experience

I saw many different land forms such as: waterfalls, deltas and canyons. The experience was really cool because we got to see different landforms and people reacting to them. It was like I was really there!

Water Erosion: Experiment Three- Flood

Question: What happens to the land when the force of water is increased.

Hypothesis: I think the water won't have time to make a hole and it will just go straight over the sand.

Materials: 1 ruler, 1 bucket with a hole, one bucket without a hole, measuring cup, rough sand, clay, fine sand wood piece.

Procedure: 
1. Set up experiment by: having one side higher than the other, a ruler holding up a cup that the water was falling from, and a hole at the end of the tray where the water came out from.
2. We poured the water into the cup with the hole, so the water would slowly spill onto the sand and erode it.

Observation:

1. the water went way faster than before.
2. The water falling has made a big hole really quickly.
3. Water ran out three times as fast as before.
4. the water  made a tunnel in the sand.
5. the water is done, and it didn't make a canyon like before.

Conclusion: The water didn't have time to make a canyon.

APL Quote

     "Don't raise your voice, improve your argument."- Desmond Tutu. I think this quote means that you can always out smart your opponent without losing your temper. I think this is a good quote, because it teaches you a lesson and gives you a tip about debate and argument. I wonder how this helps you, because if your in an argument with someone than you should probably raise your voice to have power over your opponent.

Water Erosion: Experiment Two- Deposition

Question: What happens to the land that gets eroded?

Hypothesis: I think that the land changes shape or form.

Materials: 1 ruler, 1 bucket with a hole, one bucket without a hole, measuring cup, rough sand, clay, fine sand wood piece.

Procedure:1. Set up experiment by: having one side higher than the other, a ruler holding up a cup that the water was falling from, and a hole at the end of the tray where the water came out from.
2. We poured the water into the cup with the hole, so the water would slowly spill onto the sand and erode it.

Observation:
1. The water spread out in a puddle.
2. the water falling down has made a hole where it's landing
3.  The water started going down and going more in one direction more than the other.
4. The water has made a little valley.
5.  The valley has started to get wider and has turned into a canyon.
6. The sand has gone to the end of the canyon and has started to make a triangle shape.
7.  The canyon has started to get deeper, driving more sand to the bottom
8.  A lot of water has started to come faster when we add more water.
9.  A second valley has started to form.
10. First valley has mixed with the second valley be cause it's so wide.
Conclusion: The land gets pushed to the bottom of the river, making a triangular shape.