Trackway Exercise Calculating Dinosaur Speed

Trackway Exercise Briefing

Instructions to be read carefully before beginning:

Requirements for this exercise:

1. Calculator that has a square root function probably on your phone or computer.

The items below can be found in the trackway assignment in the Trace Fossils Folder

2. Trackway Data Sheet (this is what you will submit for the exercise)

5. Track Correlation document

6. Dimensionless Speed Graph

Procedure details on the math computations will be found on the Data Sheet.

1. Identify the track maker by comparing your trackway to those in the Track Correlation document supplied. Write your choice in the space provided.

2. The values of the trackway and footprints are given in mm. at a scale of 1:9. This means that the actual trackway and footprints are 1:9th the size of actual tracks and trackways in real life.

3. You will average the results of several then measure the size of the footprints and stride lengths since tracks may differ slightly in size due to physical, depositional or preservation variables.

4. All measurement taken in mm. initially will be converted to cm. (centimeters) and a Correction for scale is also required.

5. Bold #s in parentheses are to be put on the corresponding numbered lines on the extreme right of the worksheet.

6. When determining the stride length, as with the foot size measurements, the average is taken from the values given. One stride length is the linear distance from toe tip to toe tip (or heal to heal) for the same foot ( not left foot to right foot)

7. Once the average stride length has been determined and you have entered a value for it in # 8________, you may proceed to do the remaining calculations.

The purpose of the exercise is three-fold: to illustrate how speed determinations that appear in textbooks and videos are carried out in the field by paleontologists, to assess your quantitative literacy (one of the ISLO’s for this course) and to illustrate the importance of reading and following written instructions carefully and completely when attempting something new and/or unfamiliar .