physics of geysers
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Physics of Geysers. Dr. Christian Reimers Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy University of Vienna Austria. Introductory section and preparatory phase. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Physics of Geysers
Dr. Christian ReimersFaculty of Earth Sciences,
Geography and AstronomyUniversity of Vienna
Austria
Introductory section and preparatory phase
Short Description: The Earth has a hot core and a mantle of molten rock on which the Earth's crust lies. Plate tectonics and volcanism is produced by convection. In places where the magma is near the surface, geysers can form, whose functionality can be explained with hands-on experiments and physical backgrounds.
Keywords: structure of the Earth, geothermal energy, geysers, volcanism, thermodynamics, Clausius-Clapeyron‘s equation, vapour pressure curve, boiling point, P-T-diagram
Target audience: school students, informal learners
Age range: 12-15, 16+
Context: physics (thermodynamics), geography
Time required: 2 x 50 min (more if visit in Science Center is planned)
Technical Requirements: PC, internet connection, physics labor
Author’s background: Lecturer for Physics an Mathematics for Earth Sciences
Connection with the curriculum: thermodynamics, structure of the Earth
Learning Objectives:
Behaviour of water with temperature and pressure;
Study natural phenomenon with physical concepts
Perform autonomously investigations;
Writing a scientific report
Guidance for preparation: Organise excursion to a Science Center with hands-on about volcanism and geysers
Introductory section and preparatory phase
Teaching Phase 1: Question Eliciting ActivitiesPROVOKE CURIOSITY
> Teacher: Present and show materials to provoke curiosity
Pictures / videos of volcanoes and geysers
Highest fountains and other interesting data
Types of volcanic activity: super volcanoes, etc.
Teaching Phase 1: Questions Eliciting Activities DEFINE QUESTIONS FROM CURRENT KNOWLEDGE
> Teacher: Present questions according to current knowledge
Where you can find volcanoes and/or geysers?
How is the structure of Earth?
Which mechanisms could explain volcanism and geysers?
Which physical processes are involved?
Do you know about volcanism on other planets or moons in the solar system?
> Students: Collect data from previous presentation(s) and try to connect to questions raised above
Teaching Phase 2: Active Investigation PROPOSE PRELIMINARY EXPLANATIONS OR HYPOTHESES
> Teacher: provide necessary materials (references) to be able to explain the questions; guide students to find the correct solving approaches
Behaviour of water with temperature: solid, fluid, gas
Temperature gradient in the Earth’s crust
Water cycle: ground water, where it comes from
> Students: Investigate materials and create presentation with possible answers and explanations and present to others
Teaching Phase 2: Active InvestigationPLAN AND CONDUCT SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
> Students: Search for physical concepts about volcanisms and geysers
Physical concept: „Physik in interessanten Kontexten“ from Rainer Müller, page 39ff. „Der Ausbruch eines Geysirs“ (The eruption of a geyser)
http://www.uni-kiel.de/piko/downloads/Physik_in_interessanten_Kontexten_RMueller.pdf
Experiments: „Versuchsbericht zum Thema: Schweredruck in Flüssigkeiten“
http://www.didaktik.physik.uni-duisburg-essen.de/veranstaltungen/soe/versuchsberichte/WS0809/Berichte/Versuchsbericht%20Schweredruck.doc
> Students: Reflect and document findings
> Teacher/Students: Prepare an experiment in the classroom or a visit to a science center with hands-on about volcanism and geysers
Teaching Phase 3: CreationGATHER EVIDENCE FROM OBSERVATION
> Teacher/Students: Conduct experiment of a geyser model in the classroom andmeasure temperature and pressure
Instructions:
“Experiment Geysir“: Betriebsanleitung http://www.exphys.jku.at/didaktik/Lehre/Skripten/LA_2007/BA_Geysir.pdf
Geysir-Modell: „Druckabhängigkeit des Siedepunkts“ http://vorsam.uni-ulm.de/Versuche/TH/PDF/TH080V00.PDF
> Teacher/Students: or ...
Teaching Phase 3: CreationGATHER EVIDENCE FROM OBSERVATION
> Go to a science center (e.g. WELIOS in Wels, Austria)
Topics about renewable Energies:
Go to Geothermal Energy ...
Teaching Phase 3: CreationGATHER EVIDENCE FROM OBSERVATION
> Go to a science center (e.g. WELIOS in Wels, Austria)
Earth globe you can open
Teaching Phase 3: CreationGATHER EVIDENCE FROM OBSERVATION
> Go to a science center (e.g. WELIOS in Wels, Austria)
Model of plumes and volcanic activity
Teaching Phase 3: CreationGATHER EVIDENCE FROM OBSERVATION
> Go to a science center (e.g. WELIOS in Wels, Austria)
Experiment of a geyser
> Students: Create protocol of observations and physical measurements
The geyser starts, when:the temperature reaches about 103 degree Celsius and the pressure excess is 0.15 bar
Teaching Phase 4: DiscussionEXPLANATION BASED ON EVIDENCE
> Students: Analyse data and discuss them together.
Behaviour of water: boiling, evaporating,
phase transistion
Pressure temperature:
Clausius-Clapeyron’s relation
boiling point pressure
vapour pressure curve
Teaching Phase 4: DiscussionCONSIDER OTHER EXLANATIONS
> Teacher: Ask if there are other explanations possible
Geysers or water fountains without heat:
Cold water geysers with CO2, carbon dioxide-driven (e.g. Andernach, Germany)
Artificial fountains with pumps
Water hydrants (water supply)
Associated vessels
> Students: Think about and discuss
Teaching Phase 5: ReflectionCOMMUNICATE EXPLANATION
> Students: Write a scientific report on the physical aspects of a geyser: phases of an eruption, P-T-diagram; use guidelines for writing a scientific report :<<Guidelines for Writing a Research Report Version2.1.pdf>>
Structure (title, abstract, introduction, etc.)
Layout (font, headings, enumerations, etc.)
> Teacher: Assess and discuss scientific report(s) as referee and guide students to publish refereed report in learning management system of the school
> Students: Create quizzes and questions for self assessment and publish
