LAB: How long is Nova Scotia’s Coastline?

Name: ______

Date: ______Block:______

Purpose:

To determine the length of Nova Scotia’s coastline.

Materials:

·  Tourism Map of Nova Scotia

·  String

·  Ruler

Hypothesis: (1 point)

______

Procedure:

1.  Examine the tourist map of Nova Scotia, paying particular attention to any bays and harbours that attach to the coastline.

2.  Measure the length of Nova Scotia’s coastline by carefully placing string all along the coast. Have your partner help hold it in place.

3.  Using a ruler, measure (in centimetres) the length of the string. Record your answer in row A of table one.

4.  Using the map scale, complete the calculation to determine the length of the coastline. Record your work and answer in row C of table one.

5.  Place your estimate of Nova Scotia’s coastline length (km), in the table on the board.

6.  Copy the class data from the board into table two. Calculate the class average.

7.  Using the Getting Around table on the map, find the distance by road from Yarmouth to North Sydney. Record your answer in table three.

Results:

Table One. Lab Partner Data of Nova Scotia’s Coastline Length (2 points)

A. String Length / ______cm
B. Map Scale / 7.5 km / 1 cm
C. Coastline Length / AxB = ______cm x __7.5 km_ = ______km
cm

Table Two. Class Data of Nova Scotia’s Coastline Length (2 points)

Lab Partners (Names) / Coastline Length (km)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Class Average

Table Three. Distance by Road from Yarmouth to North Sydney (1 point)

Locations / Distance (km)
Yarmouth to North Sydney

Analysis:

Complete the following questions:

1.  Approximately how many times greater is the length of Nova Scotia’s coastline compared to the distance by road from Yarmouth to Sydney? (1 point)

______

2.  Is Nova Scotia’s coastline longer or shorter than you thought it would be? Explain. (1 point)

______

3.  Did you include islands off Nova Scotia’s coast as part of the coastline? Why or why not? Should they be included? (2 points)

______

4.  What does the number you found for the length of Nova Scotia’s coastline imply or suggest about the size and importance of the job of managing our coasts? (1 point)

______

5.  How can you account (explain) for the variations (differences) in the class data from one group to the next? (1 point)

______

6.  What is the difference between a coastline and a coastal zone? (1 point)

______

7.  Which province or territory has the longest coastline in Canada? (1 point)

______

8.  a. Which country has the longest coastline in the world? (1 point)

______

b. Which country has the second longest coastline in the world? (1 point)

______

c. Which country has the third longest coastline in the world? (1 point)

______

Conclusion: (1 point)

______