Exploring Ocean Currents and Stratification

What materials are used in the experiment to understand ocean currents?

• Salt, sugar, and a container

• Oil, vinegar, and a container

• Salt, food dye, and a container

• Sand, water, and food dye

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What causes many of the waves on the surface of the ocean?

• Earthquakes

• Tides

• Wind

• Salinity differences

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

What causes deep ocean currents beneath the surface?

• Density differences due to salinity

• Wind

• Temperature differences

• Earth's rotation

What happens when the divider between salty water and fresh water is removed?

• The salty water flows underneath the fresh water

• The fresh water sinks below the salty water

• Both waters mix immediately

• The salty water floats on top of the fresh water

Why does the salty water flow underneath the fresh water?

• It is colder

• It is warmer

• It has a greater density

• It is lighter

What is the purpose of adding blue food coloring to the water?

• To create a chemical reaction

• To increase the density of the water

• To differentiate between the layers of water

• To make the water look pretty

What is the term used for the mixture of fresh and salty water?

• Brackish water

• Saline water

• Distilled water

• Mineral water

What is observed when the divider is opened after adding blue food coloring?

• The blue water floats on top

• The water turns green

• The water remains still

• A current of brackish water forms

What are the three types of water observed at the end of the experiment?

• Fresh, brackish, and distilled water

• Fresh, salty, and distilled water

• Fresh, saline, and mineral water

• Fresh, brackish, and saltwater

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

What is the main concept demonstrated in this experiment?

• How food coloring mixes in water

• How wind creates waves

• How salinity differences create ocean currents

• How temperature affects water currents

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4