How does water flow in aquifers?
By Kimberly Mullen, CPG Introduction/questions Ask students: How does water move through an aquifer? What ways does water enter and leave the aquifer? How much time does water spend in an aquifer? Objectives • To understand the movement of water through an aquifer • To understand how and why water storage in an aquifer changes over time. Key terms Pascal’s principle, Bernoulli’s principle, cohesion, adhesion, capillary action, buoyant forces, specific gravity, diffuse recharge, discrete recharge, sinkholes, losing streams, well pumps, artesian wells, residency time. Students should be familiar with all of the above listed terms. Review this information if needed. Activity • This activity explores numerous properties of water. Some of the properties and principles that come into play in the movement of water into and through aquifers are: capillary action, cohesion and adhesion of water molecules, water pressure, Pascal’s principle, and Bernoulli’s principle. The buoyant force, and the
