Title:  Percolation Rate on Different Beaches.

Location:  Three different types of beaches (sandy, shingle or pebbled) 

Aims:                      

• To investigate the percolation rate on different types of beaches. 

• To check for any possible relation between percolation rate and type of beach.

Equipment:

• An open tube with markings (this could be easily done using a plastic water bottle)

• Stop watch

• Record sheet

Method:

1. Choose a number of beaches made of different types of sediment (sandy, shingle and pebble).

2. Push the open tube in the sediment up to the first marking.

3. Fill all the tube with water and record the time taken for the water to disappear.

4. Take different records for the same beach and then work out the average.

5. Repeat the same procedure on other types of beaches and keep a record of your observations as shown below:

Location:____________

Date:_______________

6. From your table try to answer the following questions:

• Which type of beach has the fastest percolation rate?

• Which has the slowest percolation rate?

• Can you think of any possible reasons for these observations?

• Is there any relationship between the sediment type and percolation rate?

  Conclusion:

• Write a brief report about your field activity.  This should include your data, analysis and conclusions. 

Further tips:

• This experiment could even be done on the same beach if this is made up of different sediment.

• Be as accurate as possible and make sure that the tube is correctly inserted in the sediment (not allowing water to go out from the sides).

• It would be ideal to work with a friend so that one can pour the water and the other record the time.  

Recommendations:

• This is a list of beaches ideal for this fieldwork.

• Sandy beaches include Ghajn Tuffieha Bay, Mellieha Bay, Pretty Bay, Selmun, Ramla l-Hamra (Gozo).

• Pebbled beaches include Bahar ic-Caghaq, Dwejra Inner Sea (Gozo)

• Choose the beaches that are most accessible to you. If you carry out this fieldwork in summer, do not swim in where the water is polluted such as in Bahar ic-Caghaq area.

• Ask for assistance when cutting the bottle of water.