What is Irrigation?What is Irrigation?
• The broadest definition of irrigation is simply the deliberate application of water to soil.
• The ultimate goal of irrigation is to make the land fertile and lush.
• The broadest definition of irrigation is simply the deliberate application of water to soil.
• The ultimate goal of irrigation is to make the land fertile and lush.
IrrigationIrrigation
• Critical throughout history• We often irrigate marginal lands with fragile soils in areas that do not get enough rain
• Water has to travel from the place of origin to the place of use
• We have to control the water’s flow- too much water …too fast is not good
• Need to balance water needs of plants with the potential for runoff and soil loss
• Critical throughout history• We often irrigate marginal lands with fragile soils in areas that do not get enough rain
• Water has to travel from the place of origin to the place of use
• We have to control the water’s flow- too much water …too fast is not good
• Need to balance water needs of plants with the potential for runoff and soil loss
Engineered IrrigationEngineered Irrigation
• There are lots of ways to get water from the source (a river or lake) to a field• People can carry it in buckets- but water is heavy!
• Horses, donkeys, oxen or some other animal carries it- it’s heavy for them too!
• You can dig a canal - that is hard work - and engineering!
• You can run a pipe - That sounds like a good idea!
• There are lots of ways to get water from the source (a river or lake) to a field• People can carry it in buckets- but water is heavy!
• Horses, donkeys, oxen or some other animal carries it- it’s heavy for them too!
• You can dig a canal - that is hard work - and engineering!
• You can run a pipe - That sounds like a good idea!
Engineered IrrigationEngineered IrrigationQuickTime™ and a
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Lesson FocusLesson Focus
• Students work in teams to design and build a system to move water from one source to two different delivery areas.
• Students work in teams to design and build a system to move water from one source to two different delivery areas.
Lesson ChallengeLesson Challenge
• Move two cups of water for at least four feet and distribute it evenly into two separate containers.
• Minimize and capture all water leakage
• Control rate of flow (the slower the better)
• Move two cups of water for at least four feet and distribute it evenly into two separate containers.
• Minimize and capture all water leakage
• Control rate of flow (the slower the better)
ProcedureProcedure
• Develop a plan• Build your "irrigation" system• Test your system.• Evaluate the effectiveness of your own irrigation systems and those of other teams
• Present findings to the class.
• Develop a plan• Build your "irrigation" system• Test your system.• Evaluate the effectiveness of your own irrigation systems and those of other teams
• Present findings to the class.
MaterialsMaterials
• Each team will get:• 1 large cup• 2 smaller cups• 10 straws• 6 paper clips• 10 toothpicks• Duct tape, masking tape• Aluminum foil
• Each team will get:• 1 large cup• 2 smaller cups• 10 straws• 6 paper clips• 10 toothpicks• Duct tape, masking tape• Aluminum foil
Constraints - limitations or restrictions
Constraints - limitations or restrictions
• Use only materials provided• Cups must be free standing, not taped to the table or floor
• No drips - or - if there are drips you must capture all the dripped water
• Use only materials provided• Cups must be free standing, not taped to the table or floor
• No drips - or - if there are drips you must capture all the dripped water
Engineering GoalEngineering Goal• Move the water at least four feet from a source to 2 cups that will receive the water
• Water distributed equally between the 2 cups
• Challenge- for those who want to do more you may try this - in addition to the goals stated above:• make the longest irrigation system• Have the slowest moving water• Split the water into a 75% and 25% ratio (after accomplishing 50% water in each cup)
• Move the water at least four feet from a source to 2 cups that will receive the water
• Water distributed equally between the 2 cups
• Challenge- for those who want to do more you may try this - in addition to the goals stated above:• make the longest irrigation system• Have the slowest moving water• Split the water into a 75% and 25% ratio (after accomplishing 50% water in each cup)
Individual Accountability
Individual Accountability
• You work together as a group• BUT……• Each person is responsible for completing and turning in the Irrigation Ideas worksheet
• You work together as a group• BUT……• Each person is responsible for completing and turning in the Irrigation Ideas worksheet
Evaluation QuestionsEvaluation Questions
• Did you succeed in creating an irrigation system that was able to split the water source into two cups of water equally?
• What characteristics made for a good design?
• What revisions needed to be made between the design and the testing phases?
• Did you succeed in creating an irrigation system that was able to split the water source into two cups of water equally?
• What characteristics made for a good design?
• What revisions needed to be made between the design and the testing phases?
Applications to the real world
Applications to the real world
• How does what you have done today apply to the real world?
• Why is irrigation important?• How does an increasing world population affect the need for irrigation?
• Why do we need engineers?
• How does what you have done today apply to the real world?
• Why is irrigation important?• How does an increasing world population affect the need for irrigation?
• Why do we need engineers?