Stokes' Law Exercise for "Rocks and Minerals"
Summary
In this laboratory activity, students are led through a qualitative/semi-quantitative derivation of Stokes' Law. Lab groups brainstorm on and hypothesize what factors will affect the settling velocity then time the settling of various objects of known composition and size through different fluids of known viscosity to validate or invalidate their hypothesis. Additional activities that can go along with this exercise are outlined in the Teaching Notes.
Learning Goals
- Help students understand how sediments settle out through fluids (sorting, graded bedding).
- Give students an opportunity to form a hypothesis and test it.
- Get students to apply a range of quantitative skills.
Context for Use
This exercise was developed for second-year "Rocks and Minerals" course for Earth Science majors and minors. Physical Geology was the only prerequisite. The class was usually around 20 students and the activity was conducted in groups of 4.
Teaching Notes and Tips
Teaching Notes for Stokes' Law Activity (Acrobat (PDF) 56kB May4 04)
Teaching Materials
Stokes' Law Lab Activity (Acrobat (PDF) 84kB May4 04)
References and Resources
Quantitative Skills Addressed
GraphsSimple Equations
Geoscience Topics Covered
Solid EarthControlled Vocabulary Terms
Subject: Geoscience:Geology:Sedimentary Geology:Techniques of Sedimentary Geology, Sediment Transport and Deposition
Resource Type: Activities:Lab Activity
Quantitative Skills: Graphs, Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry
Ready for Use: Ready to Use
Topics: Solid Earth
Resource Type: Activities:Lab Activity
Quantitative Skills: Graphs, Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry
Ready for Use: Ready to Use
Topics: Solid Earth
