:Dirty Water
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Approach: One to one Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus:   Evaporation and condensation 
Resources:  Video recording on laptop computer, picture
468KB

Questions/instructions:

This activity uses the computer.
Place the picture of the water cycle in front of the student.


 
% responses
y4
y8
1. Here is a picture showing the three forms of water. Use the picture to tell me how water changes.
ice becomes water when it is heated and/or melts
70
84
water becomes ice when it is cooled and/or freezes
25
51
water becomes steam when it is heated and/or evaporates
39
74
steam becomes water when it is cooled and/or condenses
9
33
Point to the appropriate arrows as you give the following explanation.
So if you heat ice, it will become water. If you cool down or freeze water it will become ice. If you heat water, it will become steam. If you cool steam, it will become water.
   

Now I’ll show you a video which shows dirty water being turned into clean water. Then I’ll ask you to tell me how the dirty water was turned into clean water.
Click the Dirty Water button. The video will start.


[No sound. Video demonstrates placing empty glass in hot dirty water; covering bowl with gladwrap; placing weight in centre of covering above empty glass; closeup of droplets running down toward weight and dripping into the glass; removing weight and covering; showing glass now with clean water.]

   
2. Tell me how some of the dirty water was turned into clean water.
water in bowl evaporates/turns to steam
35
72
dirt stays in rest of water
5
25
steam condenses on plastic wrap/becomes water droplets on plastic wrap
20
60
water droplets slide down plastic wrap to low point (centre)
24
63
(clean) water droplets fall into glass
48
88
Total score:
8–9
1
20
6–7
9
34
4–5
23
29
2–3
36
13
0–1
31
4
Commentary:
Year 8 students performed much better than year 4 students on this task. 
 
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