OceanRep
A Laboratory Exercise on Determining Dinosaur Speeds Using Dimensional Analysis.
Renshaw, Carl Edward, Johnson, Gary Dean and Kvale, Karin F. (2000) A Laboratory Exercise on Determining Dinosaur Speeds Using Dimensional Analysis. Journal of Geoscience Education, 48 (3). pp. 342-361. DOI 10.5408/1089-9995-48.3.342.
Text
A Laboratory Exercise on Determining Dinosaur Speeds Using Dimensional Analysis.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (16MB) | Contact |
Abstract
Measurements from a dinosaur trackway are used to estimate how fast the dinosaur track makers were moving. The exercise, which is appropriate for any introductory earth-science course at the secondary-school or college level, introduces students to dimensional analysis by having them construct an empirical graph of dimensionless stride length versus dimensionless velocity. The students then estimate the dimensionless stride length from the trackway data and use the dimensionless graph to determine the speeds of the dinosaurs. Experience with the exercise indicates that even students with little quantitative background are motivated by the challenge of determining whether they could outrun the dinosaurs and often begin to appreciate the power of dimensional analysis, a concept not usually presented in introductory courses.
Document Type: | Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | Education - laboratory; miscellaneous and mathematical geology; paleontology - vertebrate |
Research affiliation: | OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB2 Marine Biogeochemistry > FB2-BM Biogeochemical Modeling |
Refereed: | Yes |
Open Access Journal?: | No |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
Date Deposited: | 30 Mar 2021 08:57 |
Last Modified: | 30 Mar 2021 08:57 |
URI: | https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/52188 |
Actions (login required)
View Item |
Copyright 2023 | GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel | All rights reserved
Questions, comments and suggestions regarding the GEOMAR repository are welcomed
at bibliotheksleitung@geomar.de !