Today from Bedtime Math: Freeze-Frame Falls

Try this fun math challenge with your kids!

As we were saying the other day, this winter has been ridiculously cold for the northeast U.S. -- to the point where one of the world's largest waterfalls has frozen twice. Niagara Falls, a set of three giant waterfalls on the border between the U.S. and Canada, normally send 6 million cubic feet of water over the cliff every minute. But with subzero temperatures and daily highs of only about 9 degrees, the water has actually frozen. It's hard for moving water to freeze, but whole sections have turned into giant solid billows and balls, lit by fun colorful lights that normally shine on gushing water. Meanwhile, ice caves on Lake Superior have formed beautiful icicles that usually can't form in normal winter weather, and for the first time since 2009, the lake is frozen enough for people to walk across it to visit the caves. Lots of cool, amazing things to see, if you're willing to go outside.

Now here's today's math~

Wee ones: The last time Lake Superior froze enough to walk to the caves was in 2009. Had you been born yet, and if so, how old were you?

Little kids: If it reached 9 degrees at Niagara Falls on Monday, but will start 2 degrees higher than that tomorrow, how "warm" will it be tomorrow morning?  Bonus: If water can melt at 32 degrees, but thanks to sunshine the Falls could start melting 4 degrees less than that, at what temperature will they start thawing?

Big kids: The Falls have drops as steep as 165 feet. About how many times as high as a 20-foot-tall house is that?  Bonus: Some water is still flowing alongside giant icicles. If of the 6 million cubic feet of water per minute, 1/4 of it is still moving, how many cubic feet per minute are still flowing? (Hint: To find 1/4 of a number, cut it in half, then cut in half again).

Answers:

Wee ones: Different for everyone... see if your birthyear is more or less than 2009, and if it was before then, find the difference! 

Little kids: 11 degrees.  Bonus: At 28 degrees.

Big kids: About 8 times as high.  Bonus: 1.5 million cubic feet.

And a special thank you to our fan Karen for sending in the icicle cave idea!