Hydrology BC ENV 3025
Water in Everyday Life
Questions, to be discussed in groups
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What happens in a 10 m deep Canadian Lake from October 1 to May 1? Look
at the same question if the density of water would decrease with temperature
from -10 to 100°C. Plot temperature vs. depth for each month for both
cases. Assume that the temperature in the lake on October 1 is a uniform
10°C.
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What are the differences between heating systems using an open flame, hot
air, steam, and hot water? How do the three systems work? Discuss the differences
in terms of efficiency, latent/sensible heat. What are the analogues in
the climate system of the Earth?
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Can you think of any cases in your home or in nature where adhesion and
cohesion (surface tension) of water are important? How would these processes
be affected if the surface tension of water were much lower?
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Simply by knowing that water has unusually high boiling and melting points,
can you explain how you can increase the alcohol content of a self-made
liquor at low and at high temperature?