Overview of Activity

Students use motor vehicle registration data to calculate the fuel consumption and the amount of carbon dioxide generated by the vehicles in their state.

Grade Level: 9 to 12

Difficulty: Advanced

Activity Type: In Class
URL: http://www.aag.org/HDGC/www/intro/units/unit1/html/1actguide.htm#act11
Amount of Time Required for Activity: One 45-minute period

Description
Students use the provided database of motor vehicle registrations in their state to do a series of calculations the estimate to amount and cost of the fuel consumed and the amount of carbon dioxide generated. There are several suggested extensions of this exercise in which students can discuss ways to reduce personal and regional car usage.

This activity is produced by the Association of American Geographers.

Relation to the Science Standards
High School
Content Standard A – Use Technology and Mathematics to Improve Investigations and Communications
Content Standard E – Propose Designs and Choose Between Alternative Solutions
Content Standard F – Science and Technology in Local, National, and Global Challenges

Related Part of the Exhibit
Causes of Change
Responses to Change

Links for Additional Information Related to the Activity
http://www.aag.org/HDGC/www/intro/supporting/supmattoc.html

PDFs Related to this Activity
http://www.aag.org/HDGC/www/intro/supporting/supmat1-1.PDF

Related Resources
Physicist Searches for Alternative Fuel Technologies - NewsHour, May 2, 2007
Alternative Fuels - An Indepth Report - NewsHour

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