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Home > Open Educational Resources > Future Highway > Theme 4

Future Highway
 

Theme 4: Please Pass the Salt

Winter weather can make driving on highways hazardous. When ice forms on the surface of a highway, tires lose their grip, making steering and stopping more difficult. Salt is often used to prevent wet surfaces from freezing, but it has some negative impacts on the environment. Many transportation departments are experimenting with other materials, in hopes of finding a suitable replacement for salt. In this Theme, students will explore the chemistry and environmental science related to these issues.
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  • Activity 1: Cooler Than Me by Karen Ye

    Activity 1: Cooler Than Me

    Karen Ye

    All matter is made up of atoms and molecules. Even though we can’t see them with our bare eyes, these tiny particles are constantly moving. The temperature of a substance is a measure of its average kinetic energy (the energy it has due to the ... Read More

  • Activity 2: A Little Bit Salty by Karen Ye

    Activity 2: A Little Bit Salty

    Karen Ye

    Density is defined as the amount of mass that takes up a certain amount of volume. Adding salt or sugar to water increases its density since there are more particles (mass) packed into a similar amount of space (volume). Cooling water can also increase its ... Read More

  • Activity 3: Rooting for You by Karen Ye

    Activity 3: Rooting for You

    Karen Ye

    Snow and ice removal are needed in winter for safe roads. Salt is very effective along with other chemicals, but these may cause harm to plants, wildlife, and humans. Salt seeps into groundwater and may create problems with water resources. High levels of salt affects ... Read More

  • Activity 4: Green Winterization by Karen Ye

    Activity 4: Green Winterization

    Karen Ye

    Materials other than salt are also used to mitigate the dangers of ice and increase traction. Additional materials used include sand, calcium chloride, and a mixture of salt brine and beet juice. The use of each method involves trade-offs.

 
 
 

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