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Description:
2005
A physical model for river erosion and snake formation.
This was a joint project between the three Lansey brothers. The
river began with a straight line route then ended with the snakey canyon
shown in the picture.
Motivation:
The grass needed watering. Also, I always knew why rivers snake (see
Mississippi at
right), we thought it'd be neat to try it out. Ask me and I'll be
happy to explain how it works, its not complicated.
Apparatus:
See diagram below. Prop a plastic
drawer up at an angle on some chairs, put a small hole in the bottom by
the downhill side (with bucket underneath) and fill it with washed sand.
Get the sand completely wet then wait for it to pack down.
Constant flow rate is crucial, see our
method below.
Flow Rate Smoothifier:
Per diagram below: a hose (green) was put
in an overflowing bucket (left) which kept bucket water level at a
constant height. A siphon hose (gray) then took water from the
bucket to the river source at a constant rate.
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The Mississippi river
Analysis:
Why did it happen so fast? Real
rivers take years and years!
Two words: Fractal Pattern. Tiny snakes form and
disappear immediately, bigger ones move more dirt and take longer, a
large river snake can take quite a while (my understanding of it). |
