The Floating Lithosphere - Eureka!

University of South Florida

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Scientific Accuracy
Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
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This page first made public: Sep 5, 2006

Summary

In this module, students examine Archimede's Principle in general and how it applies to Isostasy. Students recreate spreadsheets shown in the Powerpoint module on their own with formulas that answer various pieces of the overall question. This module is the second in a set of three dealing with Isostasy.

Learning Goals

Explore the buoyancy force and its role in isostasy.
Derive the form of the buoyancy force using integrals as sums.
Set up a discussion of differential vertical motion and crustal rigidity

Context for Use

This module was designed to be used in an undergraduate mathematical geology class where students are asked to look at geological questions mathematically and may spend more time on the math than on the geology.

Teaching Notes and Tips

These modules were developed as essentially self-paced, take-home lab assignments. Students are supposed to work through the modules, slide by slide, building their own worksheets as they go along, taking note of instructions and prompts, hints, and queries.

Students must have access to computers equipped with a spreadsheet program such as Excel.

Teaching Materials

This module is one of several developed by Dr. Vacher. The module presentation can be found at http://www.evergreen.edu/washcenter/modules/moduleList.asp

The Powerpoint file is considered to be the student version. There is also an instructor's version that has active spreadsheets in it. There are instructions for requesting this version on the website.

Assessment

The easiest way to test student work on this module is to ask students to hand in a copy of their worksheets starting with a different set of input data. The module also ends with homework assignment questions.

References and Resources

Polya, 1957

Contact the Author

Please contact the author with questions or suggestions.

Controlled Vocabulary Terms

Subject: Mathematics, Geoscience:Geology:Geophysics, Physics
Resource Type: Activities:Lab Activity
Special Interest: Quantitative
Grade Level: College Upper (15-16), College Lower (13-14)
Quantitative Skills: Problem Solving, Differential Equations and Integrals
Ready for Use: Ready to Use
Topics: Solid Earth

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