Chapter U3.51, Problem 2E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation : Use of graph to convert volume of snow in a snowpack to the volume of water in the snowpack is to be explained.

Concept Introduction : Scientists measure the snowpack to predict the amount of water that will be available for consumption for the rest of year. The mountains get several feet of snow every winter and this snow melts and reaches the reservoir.When snow melts its volume decreases but its mass remains the same.

Answer to Problem 2E

The graph below shows mass versus volume for liquid water as well as snow with a density of 0.25g/mL.

  

One can use the graph to convert snow volume to liquid water volume by following the orange arrows.

Explanation of Solution

When snow melts it volume decreases but its mass remains the same. This is because the same water molecules are present in frozen snow and melted snow. Density of snow is less than density of water. One can use a graph to convert from snow volume to liquid water volume.

  

To use the graph,one must plot 2 lines of mass versus volume, one line is for snow and another for water in liquid state. The density of the substance is determined from the slope of each line. For example:

The orange arrows on the graph show that for a volume of 20 mL of snow, mass of snow is 5g. When this snow melts, mass of water remains the same. So 5g of water is equivalent to 5mLof water.

Conclusion

Graphs can be used to convert volume of snow to the volume of rain water.