Category Archives: Water Cycle

Rain Water Collection

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As part of our studies on the hydrosphere we’re trying to determine the amount (volume) of rain water that could be collected from the roof of our classroom building. So far students determined the average annual rainfall received in Winter Garden and the dimensions of the 400 building (see the gallery for pictures).

The challenge that remains is how to convert those measurements into typical units of volume (gallons or liters). Of course this might be complicated by having a mix of metric and standard measures (i.e. rainfall in inches and building dimensions in meters).

Looking for some extra credit? Then take this exercise one step further.

If the rate of rainfall is 1.5 inches per hour and it rains for 1/2 hour, how many 220 liter rain barrels will be required to collect all the run-off from the 400 building roof.

Submit your answer on a separate sheet of paper, showing all your calculations. Be sure to have your name (first and last), the date and period at the top of your paper and underline your answer. Turn in no later than Wednesday 9/26.

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Water Resources and Your Community

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When we started this activity we set 4 goals:

  • To develop an understanding of the distribution of salt and fresh water on the earth (how it’s spread out or separated)
  • To learn what sources of water we use in Winter Garden
  • To create a model of how water moves between reservoirs (places that hold water) within the water cycle
  • And to create a method of calculating the amount of fresh water that could be collected from the roof of our classroom building.

We have finished the first 2 and are now going to move on to the hydrologic or water cycle. Here’s a short movie clip showing the cycle in motion.

Follow this link for more information. This site will require registration if you have not already done so. Give it a try!

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