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Ocean Mapping SE

The document outlines an educational activity focused on ocean mapping using sonar technology. It includes prior knowledge questions, a warm-up exercise, and a series of tasks for students to explore coordinates, depth measurement, and map creation. Students are guided to analyze and interpret ocean depth data while engaging with a simulation tool called the Gizmo.

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2026jbuckley
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108 views3 pages

Ocean Mapping SE

The document outlines an educational activity focused on ocean mapping using sonar technology. It includes prior knowledge questions, a warm-up exercise, and a series of tasks for students to explore coordinates, depth measurement, and map creation. Students are guided to analyze and interpret ocean depth data while engaging with a simulation tool called the Gizmo.

Uploaded by

2026jbuckley
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name: ______________________________________ Date: ________________________

Student Exploration: Ocean Mapping

Vocabulary: coordinates, latitude, longitude, sonar

Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)


You are exploring a cave. As you enter a room, your light suddenly goes out—dead batteries!
While waiting for your companions to catch up, you try to estimate the size of the room by
clapping your hands.

1. You clap your hands, and instantly you hear an echo of the clap. What does this tell you

about the size of the room? ___________________________________________________


THE ROOM IS COULD BE EITHER SMALL OR BIG BUT THE ROOM IS FULL
_________________________________________________________________________

2. Suppose when you clap your hands you hear the echo a few seconds later. What can you

say about the size of this room? _______________________________________________


THE ROOM IS LARGE AND EMPTY
_________________________________________________________________________

Gizmo Warm-up
To measure the depth of the ocean floor, scientists use a
technology called sonar. A pulse of sound waves is emitted by
a transmitter. The waves bounce off the ocean floor and return
to the instrument. The time it takes the signal to return to the
device is recorded and analyzed to determine the depth of the
ocean at that point. The Ocean Mapping Gizmo™ allows you
to create and interpret maps made by this method.

1. On the 3D POINT pane, the blue grid represents the ocean surface. The tan grid represents
a depth of 6 meters (19.7 feet). Each cube has a height of 1 meter. To find the depth of the
ocean, subtract the number of cubes from 6 meters.
5
A. How many cubes are stacked below the boat? ____________________
1
B. How deep is the ocean at this point? ____________________

yes
2. Select the TABLE tab to check your answer. Were you correct? ____________________

light blue
3. Select the 2D MAP tab. What color represents this depth? ____________________

2019
Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity:
 Turn on Show grid.
Create a map  If necessary, click in the upper-left corner of the
map to place the boat there.

Introduction: Each point on a map of the ocean


surface is described by two numbers, or
coordinates. The latitude of a point describes its
position north or south of the equator. The longitude
of a point describes its position east or west of the
prime meridian.

Goal: Create and interpret an ocean depth map.

1. Record: The current latitude and longitude


of the boat are shown in the top left square 30.4º N, 90.3º W
30.4° N, 90.4° W
of the table at right. Move the boat one
square to the right (east) by clicking in that
square, and record the new latitude and
longitude in the same format. Then, move 30.3º N, 90.4º W 30.3º N, 90.3º W
the boat one square down and one square
left. Finish filling in the table.

LONGITUDE
2. Analyze: Which value changes if you move the boat to the east or west? _______________
LATITUDE
Which value changes if you move the boat north or south? _______________

3. Apply: If the coordinates of the top-left point ( )


of the map at right are 30.4° N, 90.4° W, what
are the coordinates of the boat shown?

30.0º N, 89.6º W
______________________________________

Use the Gizmo to check your answer.

4. Gather data: You have been assigned to measure the ocean depth at three locations. Select
the 2D MAP tab. Click on each point in the SIMULATION pane based on the given latitude
and longitude and record the depth. Check your answers using the TABLE tab.

Point Latitude Longitude Depth (m)


1 29.6° N 90.3° W 4
2 30.1° N 89.5° W 1
3 29.9° N 89.6° W 2

(Activity continued on next page)

2019
Activity (continued from previous page)

5. Create a map: Click New ocean. Select Methodical Motion and click Play ( ) to create a
map of the entire ocean floor. View the resulting map on the 3D MAP tab. (You can use the
and buttons to spin the map.)

Click the camera ( ) to take a snapshot of the map. Right-click the image and select Copy
Image, then paste the image it into a blank document. Then, choose the 2D MAP tab. Take
a snapshot of this map and paste it below the 3D map. Print this document out and turn it in
with this worksheet.

Which map is easier to interpret, and why do you think so? __________________________

THE 2D ONE IS EASIER TO BE FLATTER AND NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE CENTRAL
_________________________________________________________________________
AREAS
_________________________________________________________________________

6. Interpret: A boat is looking for a safe passage from the dock on the west (left) side of the
map to the islands on the west (right) side of the map. On one of the maps you have printed
out in the previous question, use a marker to trace a continuous route that is at least 4
meters deep the whole way.

In the space below, write the latitude and longitude of five points along this route.

30.4º N, 90.4 W
1. ____________________ 30.4º N, 90.3º W
2. ____________________ 29.8º N, 90.3º W
3. ____________________

29.5º N, 90.3º W
4. ____________________ 29.5º N, 89.5º W
5. ____________________

2019

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