Education Technology


Pool Plunge: Linear Relationship Between Water Depth and Pressure

Activity Overview

In this activity, students will collect pressure readings at different depths in a water-filled pipe with the help of a pressure sensor. They will find a model this data and understand the relationship between depth and pressure.

Before the Activity

  • Connect a pressure probe to Channel 1 on the CBL 2™ or LabPro®
  • Connect the CBL 2 or LabPro to the calculator using the Unit-to-Unit cable
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 19 - 25 from the attached PDF file for your class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to your class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:

  • Attach one end of the plastic tubing to the sinker weight and the other to the pressure sensor
  • Lower the weighted end into a vertical pipe filled with water and record pressure readings at various depths
  • Examine the graph of pressure versus depth
  • Calculate the slope and intercept information using any two data points and determine the equation of the line
  • Do a linear regression on all the data points and determine the regression line equation
  • Compare the two equations
  • Interpret the slope and intercept of the linear model
  • After the Activity

    Students' will fill in the Student Data Collection and Analysis Sheet and answer questions listed in it.

    Review student results:

  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary