Lesson 1 - 3
The following exercise must be completed and submitted to your instructor for grading. Click here for directions on how to submit your assignment.
Gain The Summit
Introduction
Mt. Everest is the tallest peak on earth. It is located in a mountain range called the Himalayas. Climbers can access this daunting peak through Nepal or Tibetan China. Climbing parties spend thousands of dollars on permits alone, in addition to the large amount of money it takes for travel and equipment. Even as expenses have soared over the years, more and more people are successfully reaching the summit at 29,029 feet above sea level.
In this web quest, you will use math concepts from the first three lessons of this course to describe the unique challenge and history of summiting the world's tallest peak.
The Task
You are assigned to be a coordinator for a group trying to climb Mt. Everest. Your team needs one more climber, so you must compile some information and organize it to help recruit potential teammates. You'll need to include material describing the history of climbing Mt. Everest as well as supply technical route and safety information to interest potential climbers. The result will be an information sheet for potential climbers to decide if they want to join you on the expedition.
The Process
1. Find a map of the area. Include the map and the hyperlink to where you found the map.
2. Use this map to name three neighboring countries and three nearby towns or cities surrounding the summit of Mt. Everest.
3. Calculate the distance from each of these three cities to Mount Everest. Give the distance in miles and kilometers. Include the formulas you used to calculate these figures.
4. Describe the climate and weather at Mount Everest. Include temperature ranges for the warmest and coolest months of the year. Give the temperatures in both Fahrenheit and Centigrade. Include the formulas you used to calculate these figures.
5. Name five of the popular climbing routes.
6. Select two of the popular climbing routes and identify the key places or camps. Make a table for each climbing route. Each table should include the name of each camp, the elevation of the camp in feet, and the difference in elevation between each camp in feet. Identify which section of each route gains the most in elevation.
7. Use the table to make a list of as much of the necessary equipment as you can. You should include a list of at least 15 items. Assume that your climbing party has six climbers, eight climbing Sherpas, and 10 support Sherpas at base camp. All of the Sherpas are experienced climbers and will bring their own gear. Complete the table by totaling the cost for the equipment.
ITEM COST HOW MANY TOTAL =
(how many x cost)
Ice Axe
Rope
Carabineer
Etc.
TOTAL =
8. There have been many deaths in an attempt to climb Mount Everest. Make a timeline starting from the first attempted summit through 2004. Indicate the number of summits each year and the number of deaths and the ratio of summits to deaths. Calculate the total number of summits, deaths, and summit-to-death ratio at the bottom of the table.
Use a chart like this for calculating the summit-to-death ratio:
YEAR SUMMITS DEATHS RATIO
(Summits/Deaths)
TOTAL
9. Plot the number of summits each year on a scatter plot on a piece of graph paper. Calculate the ratio of summits to deaths (do this by making the fraction: # of summits/ # of deaths for each year.) Plot this information on a scatter plot on another piece of graph paper. Look at your graph of successful summits over time. Has the number of summits each year increased linearly since the first summit to the present? (Do not submit the graphs.)
10. List at least three facts that might explain the increase in summits as the years have gone by?
11. List at least three biological effects of altitude on the body.
12. List at least three facts that might explain the increase in summits as the years have gone by.
13. Who were the first two men to successfully summit Everest? Who was the first woman to successfully summit Everest?
Use the following links to help you get started to find the information that you need. Remember, you are not limited to these sites. Use your Search Engines (Google, Dogpile, etc.) to find additional sites. Be sure and save the hyperlinks you used. You'll need them to prepare your Bibliography.
For historical information and statistics:
Mount Everest History Facts
EverestHistory.com
Everest and the Himalaya
For supply and cost information:
EverestNews.com
For firsthand accounts of climbing Mt. Everest:
All Things Everest
For historical information and statistics:
All Things Everest
Nova Online Adventure
For weather and up-to-date information:
EverestNews.com
For more math fun about Mt. Everest:
American-Canadian Mt. Everest Expedition
Conclusions
Write a paragraph identifying which route you have selected to climb and the reasons you have recommended this route. Make sure that you organize your information in such a way as to encourage a potential teammate to join this excursion. Consider factors such as safety, previous deaths, incline, weather conditions, etc. to justify your recommendation. Include your findings from #1-13 in the process.
Bibliography
Include a Bibliography of the hyperlinks you used to find your information.
I'm not asking any one to do this im just asking if some one can tell me wha they know bout Mt. Everest that could help me out on writing this paper so any kind of information you know about Mt. Everest would be highly appreciated .. Thanks!
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