by Naomi White, Science Teacher, Jefferson High School, LAUSD
OPTIONAL MATH PROBLEMS Sample Problems:
What is the gradient or % slope of a vertical distance change of 10 ina 200m area?% slope (gradient) = (vertical distance / horizontal) x 100
50% = (10m / 200m) x 100
A girl in an inner tube takes 43 minutes and 20 seconds to travel 340mbetween trees A and B. Calculate the rate of flow.rate of flow (velocity) = distance (m) / Time (sec)
40m / 2600 sec = 0.9m/sec
How long would it take her to travel 3km?rate of flow (velocity) = distance (m) / Time (sec)
0.9m/sec = 3000m/time
time = 2700 sec = 45 minutes
The average depth of the river near tree B is 2.4m. The width is 6m. Howmuch water passes B in a 10 second period?Volume = Area x Time x Velocity
Volume = 8.6m (2.4m) x 0.9m/sec
Volume = 186m of water
Problems:
Trough Distance Trial 1 (sec) Trial 2 (sec) Trial 3 (sec) Average Time Average Speed m/sec A 0.5m 2.1 2.1 2.4 B 1.0m 4.3 4.1 3.8 C 1.5m 6.2 5.7 6.1 D 0.75m 2.7 2.9 2.7 E 25m 20.6 25.2 23.4 F 31.4m 30.5 34.8 41.2
How long it takes a leaf to travel:
Vertical Distances Trough: A B C D E F 2m 10m
Calculate the Gradient (% slope):
Vertical Distance Horizontal Distance % Slope 2cm 100cm 4cm 100cm 10cm 100cm 6cm 50cm 3cm 120cm 15cm 230cm
Calculate the Volume of Water:
Time Width Depth Speed Volume 10sec 8.6m 0.6m 1.2m/sec 5sec 2.4m 2.4m 8.6m/sec 50sec 3.9m 3.1m 3.0m/sec 100sec 25.2m 10.2m 10m/sec
Los Angeles River Connection is a part of LAEP Learning Exchange.