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Sideways Icicles

Icicles on a roof growing sideways because of prevailing wind currents demonstrates that the applied wind force partially overcomes the gravitational force downward.
 

Location
Farley, Iowa, Dubuque County

Driving Question

  • What forces are involved in the direction of the icicles?

Probing Questions

  • How long were the forces affecting the icicles? 
  • Why did the phenomenon occur here but not elsewhere?

Classroom Suggestions

Resources

Iowa Core Alignment

HS-PS2-1:
Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration

Credit Info

Submitted by Diane May

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