Pan Water Cycle Model  

The purpose of this activity is to introduce students to the concepts of equilibrium and conservation of mass through a model of a closed cyclic system, a pan water cycle.

TEACHER RESOURCES

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Student Activity
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Learning
   Goals/Standards


COMPUTER MODELS

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THE MODEL DIAGRAM


THE EQUATIONS
Water_in_Air(t) = Water_in_Air(t - dt) + (Evaporation - Condensation) * dt
   INIT Water_in_Air = 0 {ml}
Water_in_Pan(t) = Water_in_Pan(t - dt) + (Precipitation - Evaporation) * dt
   INIT Water_in_Pan = 100 {ml}
Water_on_Cover(t) = Water_on_Cover(t - dt) + (Condensation - Precipitation) * dt
   INIT Water_on_Cover = 0 {ml}

Evaporation = Water_Temperature * Amount_of_Evap_per_degree_C
Condensation = 0.5 * Water_in_Air
Precipitation = 0.5 * Water_on_Cover

Amount_of_Evap_per_degree_C = 1/20 {ml/min/degree Celsius}
total_water = Water_in_Air + Water_in_Pan + Water_on_Cover
Water_Temperature = 100 {degrees Celsius}



THE OUTPUT



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