ACTIVITY - DENSITY DRIVEN CURRENTS
Home > Ocean Waters > Water Properties > Density Driven Currents
Density Driven Currents - COSEE Coastal Trends 
Lesson PlanSummary
Students add fresh water to dyed salt water in graduated cylinders or “density tanks” to demonstrate density differences in ocean and coastal waters and how these differences drive currents.
Concept: Water properties
Ocean waters have unique properties.
Ocean waters have unique properties.
National Science Education Standards
(click a standard to show activities that meet it)
K-12 Unifying Concepts and Processes
Evolution and equilibrium
9-12 A Science as Inquiry
Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
9-12 B Physical Science
Motions and forces
9-12 D Earth and Space Science
Origin and evolution of the earth system
Ocean Literacy Essential Principles (PDF booklet): 1. The Earth has one big ocean with many features (concept e)
Life on an Ocean Planet text reference (book link): Chapter 8 The Nature of Water
Chapter 9 Water: A Physically Unique Molecule
(click a standard to show activities that meet it)
K-12 Unifying Concepts and Processes
Evolution and equilibrium
9-12 A Science as Inquiry
Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
9-12 B Physical Science
Motions and forces
9-12 D Earth and Space Science
Origin and evolution of the earth system
Ocean Literacy Essential Principles (PDF booklet): 1. The Earth has one big ocean with many features (concept e)
Life on an Ocean Planet text reference (book link): Chapter 8 The Nature of Water
Chapter 9 Water: A Physically Unique Molecule
30 mins
