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1-007-AntTunnelBuilding-ModelingScenario

Author(s): Brian Winkel

SIMIODE - Systemic Initiative for Modeling Investigations and Opportunities with Differential Equations

Keywords: Spanish hormiga túnel ant tunnel

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Abstract

Resource Image We pose the prospect of modeling just how long an ant takes to build a tunnel. With a bit of guidance students produce a model for the time it takes to build a tunnel of length x into the side of a damp sandy hill.

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Article Context

Resource Type
Differential Equation Type
Technique
Qualitative Analysis
Application Area
Course
Course Level
Lesson Length
Technology
Approach
Skills
Key Scientific Process Skills
Assessment Type
Vision and Change Core Competencies - Ability
Principles of How People Learn

Description

How long does it take an ant to build a tunnel? That seems like a reasonable question. If you ever had an ant colony purchased by a well-meaning aunt for you in grade school you may have watched ants building industriously and you just might have an idea on this. To answer the question we might need some narrowing of scope, some simplification, and certainly some identification of terms and variables before we can get a nice answer. Let us identify some variables and then together make some assumptions which will lead to a mathematical model.

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Authors

Author(s): Brian Winkel

SIMIODE - Systemic Initiative for Modeling Investigations and Opportunities with Differential Equations

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