USING DINOSAUR TRACKS AND MODELS TO CALCULATE DINOSAUR SPEEDS AND WEIGHTS AS A METHOD OF INTRODUCTION OF PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES AND THE USE OF MATHEMATICAL CALCULATIONS IN UNDERGRADUATE INTRODUCTORY EARTH SCIENCE LABORATORIES

Undergraduate introductory earth science courses for non-science majors are often devoid of data quantification and mathematical manipulation exercises. It may be of more value to the student to present physical principles of nature in a format where data is quantified through mathematical calculations. Of course, this often "turns students off" when they see a mathematical formula. However, if dinosaurs are brought into the mix, it often "turns students on". One of the laboratory sessions in introductory Earth Science at West Virginia University at Parkersburg involves determining the speed of a theropod dinosaur based on photographs of a theropod dinosaur track. In the same laboratory session students also determine the "fleshed-out" weight of a dinosaur using toy models of dinosaurs (Carnegie Museum Models are used, typically Triceratops). In the dinosaur speed exercise, the students must measure the length of a track from a scaled photograph. They are given the length of the stride and then must go through the standard calculations to determine the speed the dinosaur was moving when it made the track. The trackway where the theropod track was photographed is located in the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation near Moab, Utah. For the calculation of the "fleshed-out" weight of a dinosaur, the students use a device which displaces the volume of the toy dinosaur model and allows the displacing water to flow into a graduated cylinder. Using the volume of the toy model and a density estimate of 900 kg/cubic meter, they determine the "fleshed-out" volume, mass, and weight (in tons) of the original dinosaur. Student response to this exercise is generally excellent. Although mathematical formulas and calculations are involved, they are not "turned-off". Laboratory exercises of this nature enhance student learning and make them better critical thinkers. Other quantified exercises using dinosaurs for stimulation could be devised to motivate students and increase student learning.