| ACTIVITIES | - Introduction to the Activity: Explain to students the premise of the experiment:
During the Heroic Age, many explorers struggled with effectively carrying equipment and supplies across Antarctica. Even modern transportation at the time was inadequate when faced with extreme cold, uneven landscape and sinking snow. In the race to the South Pole, Amundsen and Scott used different methods of transportation. You are going to explore different ways that explorers moved materials and then will decide which method was the most effective. With each experiment consider the following:
- How did the weight of the rock affect the snow? Consider weight to surface area distribution and observe the tracks on the snow.
- What is the power source for this method (engine, animal, human)?
- What is required to maintain the power source (food, gas, temperature)?
- What areas of friction (resistance) were encountered when trying to move the load?
- How much additional force (effort) was required to transport the weight over uneven surfaces?
- Record the results of each experiment on the included recording sheet. Decide which method of transportation is most effective.
- Experiment #1 (Wheels)- Have students tie a string around a toy car. Next, place a rock on top of the car and pull across the snow. After, students record their findings on their recording sheet in their Oceans 411 Book.
- Experiment #2 (Sled/Skies)- Have students tie a string around the craft stick. Next, place a rock on top of the wood and pull across the snow. Record findings in journal.
- Experiment #3 (Pulling)-Have students tie a string around the rock and pull across the snow. Record findings in journal.
- Experiment #4 (Carrying)-Have students hold a rock in their hand. Using their pointer and index finger, walk across snow. Record findings in journal.
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