Planetary Geology pdf - NASA

emove the flaps). Three windows are cut out, one
on each side and one on the top. The two side windows
are sealed with clear plastic wrap (or clear
acrylic panels) and taped from the inside. The width
of the plastic wrap determines the height of the window.
A convenient length is 40 cm. The top window
is left unsealed so that you can look more closely at
the sand crater and perhaps take pictures during
different stages of the experiment. A base is placed
on the floor of the wind tunnel in order to raise the
floor area to nearer the center of the fan. Fifteen centimeters
above the floor is sufficient. The base
should fit snugly within the tunnel, to help stabilize
the box and to prevent the base from being moved
by the wind from the fan. The sand collection tray is
placed behind the base to catch some of the sand or
sugar. The posterboard is placed on top of the base
box fan
wind stabilizer
poster board
and base
Figure 9.1. Diagram of wind tunnel construction.
kitty litter tray
104
and should be taped down along the sides to prevent
it from becoming airborne during the experiment.
The wind stabilizer is placed directly against
the base within the tunnel and the fan is placed
immediately behind the wind stabilizer. The fan
should be within the flaps at one end of the box, and
directed to blow into the tunnel.
Science Standards
■ Earth and Space Science
¥ Energy in the Earth system
¥ Origin and evolution of the Earth system
window
window
Placement of elements in wardrobe
box, with flaps left open at ends.
Exercise Nine: Aeolian Processes
Activities in Planetary Geology for the Physical and Earth Sciences EG-1998-03-109-HQ