Introduction: Our goal with this discovery lab is to determine the amount of time at which the Western Duck Pond will fill with sediment if no excavation methods are employed. Therefor, it is our intention to determine the ratio of the water quantity to sediment quantity flowing into the pond and compare it to the ratio of sediment to water exiting the pond. Through this comparison we can easily determine the amount of sediment staying within the pond and calculate the amount of time at which the volume of the pond will be replaced with sediment.
Hypothesis: The time required for the Western Duck pond to fill with sediment is 23.1 years, assuming the following variables:
a. 14,446.8 litres of water enters the pond per hour
b. .01 grams of sediment/litre
c. 65% sediment in water stays in pond
d. 500,000 liters of water in pond
e. 4% sediment deposited from external sources
Materials: 1. Sediment collection chambers (film containers)
2. three wooden poles (1x1)
3. measuring implement (meter stick, measuring tape, string)
4. swan defense fortress
5. filters
6. gram weight balance
7. floatable items (to determine velocity)
Pre-Procedure: A. To measure stream velocity, measure out a meter and record the amount of time each buoyant testing specimen takes to travel one meter.
B. Measure the average depth and width of the excavated stream testing range
C. Using calculations from both A and B, determine the amount of water entering the pond.
D. Take a liter sample of water and filter it's sediment into filter paper.
E. Record the sediment measurement from the filter to determine the amount of sediment entering the pond per liter per hour.
F. Repeat Pre-Procedures A-E on the testing range and water exiting the pond.
G. Obtain a cubic centimeter of sediment and calculate it's mass and density.
Procedure: 1. Research the bathymetry of the Western Duck Pond utilizing public record information
2. Once bathymetry has been obtained, calculate volume of the pond in litres
3. Attach 3 plastic cups around the large pole at 3 different levels in a helix pattern, allowing several feet of space between each group of containers
A. The first cluster of containers shall be 2 feet above the bottom while the other 2 clusters shall be spaced equally along the length
4. Repeat step 3 to create 2 other poles
5. locate 3 poles in the duck pond at random locations, sinking the bottom end of the pole on the floor of the pond
6. locate several collection containers at the base of the tributary stream
7. allow 2 of the collection containers sit for one week while allowing the other pole to remain in its singular locale for two weeks-thus simulating our experimental control variable
8. after a week's time has elapsed, collect containers from both poles and the creek
9. in the laboratory, weigh a clean piece of filter paper
10. pour contents of each collection container through a piece of filter paper treating each container separately
11.weight each container's sediment along with filter paper in grams (g)
12. subtract weight of clean filter paper from the result calculated in step #11
13. Repeat process #11 and #12 for all collection containers
14. Replace containers on long poles
15. replace poles to different spots in the pond and replace the solitary containers to the base of the creek
16. allow one week's time to elapse
17. after one week, collect all containers (including the third, "control", container)
18. repeat processes #10 - #12, making sure to treat each container separately.
The Wild Swans at Coole
By William Butler Yeats
The trees are in their autumn beauty,
The woodland paths are dry,
Under the October twilight the water
Mirrors a still sky;
Upon the brimming water among the stones
Are nine-and-fifty swans.
The nineteenth autumn has come upon me
Since I first made my count;
I saw, before I had well finished,
All suddenly mount
And scatter wheeling in great broken wings
Upon their clamorous wings.
I have looked upon those brilliant creatures,
And now my heart is sore.
All's changed since I, hearing at twilight,
The first time on this shore,
The bell-beat of their wings above my head,
Trod with a lighter tread.
Unwearied still, lover by lover,
They paddle in the cold
Companionable streams or climb the air;
Their hearts have not grown old;
Passion or conquest, wander where they will,
Attend upon them still.
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