Volcanic Ejecta from Sunset Crater
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This page first made public: Jun 26, 2008
Summary
Students are provided with equations and geological data to estimate the velocities and impact effects of volcanic bombs that were ejected during the last eruption of Sunset Crater, a young cinder cone volcano in northern Arizona.
Click here to view the full activity on the Kéyah Math Project website.
Click here to view the full activity on the Kéyah Math Project website.
Learning Goals
Objectives
Mathematical Skills
- Given quantitative data and a set of equations of motion, calculate the velocities of volcanic bombs ejected during a geologically recent cinder-cone eruption.
- Assess the potential impact effects if such an eruption were to occur today.
Mathematical Skills
- Basic algebra
- Solving equations
Context for Use
This activity consists of a set of quantitative problem-solving exercises that can be used as an in-class activity or an assignment in any introductory course with a unit on volcanism or volcanic hazards, such as:
- Physical geology or physical geography
- Geology of National Parks or geology of the Western United States
- Environmental geology, natural hazards, natural disasters
- Earth system science or Earth and space science
- Earth materials
- Introductory volcanology
Description and Teaching Materials
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Teaching Notes and Tips
An Instructor's Guide to all Kéyah Math activities is available online from the Instructor Resources page on the Kéyah Math website.
Assessment
Students record their work and answers in a word-processor document or a notebook, which can be submitted to the instructor for assessment. Solutions to these problems are available online from the Instructor Resources page on the Kéyah Math website.
References and Resources
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