How to Create a Model of an Avalanche
Creating a model avalanche is a good way to understand and illustrate the mechanics involved in an actual avalanche. Create a board that displays three different types of terrain at once to get the most out of this experiment. Displaying multiple types of terrain at once also helps to show how the type of terrain can affect whether--and where--an avalanche occurs.
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Things You'll Need
- 24" x 36" board
- Sugar
- Salt
- Flour
- Flour scoop
- Model trees or real twigs
- Rocks
- Glue
- Marker
- Straight edge
- Inclinometer
Instructions
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1
Use the straight edge and marker to draw three vertical lines, dividing your board into three equal 24" x 12" sections.
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2
Glue a thick covering of model trees or twigs in the bottom half of the rightmost section.
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Glue a sparse covering of model trees or twigs and small rocks, to represent sparse tree and boulder cover, in the bottom two-thirds of the middle section of your board.
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Leave the leftmost section completely bare.
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Have a volunteer hold the board at a 25-degree angle.
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Use the flour scoop to layer the sugar, salt and flour evenly across the board.
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Let your volunteer slowly raise one edge of the board up until the sugar, salt and flour avalanche. Use your inclinometer to measure the angle the board was at--which represents a mountain's slope angle--when the "avalanche" occurred.
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Tips & Warnings
Experiment with creating different layers of "snow" and see which type of layering fails or avalanches first. Which seems to be most stable?
