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Glaciers

How Glaciers Move

Grades: 6 - 12

Length: 45 to 60 minutes

Topics: glacier deformation, basal sliding, friction

Lesson Description: Students explore the movement of glaciers using ‘Glacier Goo’, which is a material that behaves similarly to ice.  At low stresses, Glacier Goo deforms plastically under its own weight in contrast to its brittle behavior at high stresses.  Students conduct experiments to investigate how the slope, bed properties, and temperature of the Glacier Goo influence the glacier’s flow speed.

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