Corinth Canal

Corinth Canal

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is about working out area and volume.
Corinth-Canal.png
The picture shows a cross-section of the Corinth Canal in Greece. The 6.4 km long canal has sloping sides and the water is 8 metres deep throughout.

Question 2Change answer

a)  What is the area of the cross-section of the canal up to the water-line?  m2

Question 2Change answer

b)  What is the total volume of water in the 6.4 km long canal? m3
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online (with SOME auto marking).
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Maths, Geometry and Measurement, Measurement
Keywords: 
area, volume, 2-dimensional shapes
Description of task: 
Students use a cross-section diagram of a canal to calculate area and volume.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Measurement sense, sets 7-8
within the Mathematics Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
 

Y10 (11/1999)

a)

188

difficult

b)

1 203 200 [accept answer to a) × 6400]

difficult

EXTENSION: The canal was built in the 1890s. The depth of the cut down to the water level ranges from 20 m at each end to 80 m in the middle, with an average depth of 50 m. Use either scale drawing or ratios to work out the total volume of rock removed.

Diagnostic and formative information: 

 

Common error

Likely calculation

Likely reason

a)

 

 

200
176

25 × 8
22 × 8

Calculates area of a rectangle rather than a trapesium.

55

22 + 25 + 8

Adds all 3 dimensions.

4400

22 × 25 × 8

Multiplies all 3 dimensions.

b)

 

4400

22 × 25 × 8

Calculates an inappropriate volume.

1203.2

188 × 6.4

Does not convert 6.4 km to 6400 metres.