Question

Students noticed that a nearby pond, fed by a single stream was filling up with sediment. The students want to determine what factors are contributing to the amount and type of sediment entering the pond. Which investigation is most likely to produce data that will help answer their questions?

a) Measure the depth of the sediments in the center of the pond once a week during the school year.
b) Collect and measure the mass of particles carried by the stream in one minute and then in ten minutes.
c) Collect and measure the mass of clay particles, silt particles, sand grains, and small pebbles carried by the stream at different stream velocities.
d) Obtain samples from different depths in the sediments at the bottom of the pond and determine how the sizes and amounts of particles have changed over time.

Answer 1

Option c) Collect and measure the mass of clay particles, silt particles, sand grains, and small pebbles carried by the stream at different stream velocities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The investigation that is most likely to produce data that will help answer the students' question is option c) Collect and measure the mass of clay particles, silt particles, sand grains, and small pebbles carried by the stream at different stream velocities.

By collecting and measuring the mass of different sediment particles carried by the stream at different velocities, the students can determine the proportions of different types of sediment entering the pond. This data will provide information about the factors contributing to the amount and type of sediment in the pond.