Exploring the Deep Ocean

Science · Ocean Life · ages 9-11

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Besides submarines and ROVs, what else helps scientists study the ocean?
- Microscopes only
- Satellites
- Wind turbines
Which tool do scientists use to explore deep parts of the ocean without sending a person down?
- An ROV
- Telescope
- Thermometer
Scientists have explored and mapped most of the deep ocean floor.
Circle one: True False
Look at the chart comparing what scientists have mapped. What does it show?
- We know the Moon's surface better than the ocean floor
- We know the ocean floor better than the Moon
- Both are completely mapped
Why do scientists send ROVs instead of divers into the deepest parts of the ocean?
- Divers get seasick too easily
- ROVs are cheaper to feed
- Pressure would crush a diver
A diver explores a trench so deep that sunlight never reaches it. What problem will darkness cause?
- The diver will float upward
- The diver cannot see without strong lights
- The diver will get too hot
A team wants to study creatures living 6 kilometers below the surface, where it is pitch dark and the pressure is enormous. Which tool should they use, and why?
- An ROV, because it can survive the pressure and carries lights and cameras
- A diver with a snorkel, because it is simple and cheap
- A satellite, because it can take pictures from space
A student says, 'We have explored the whole ocean floor, so there is nothing new left to find in the deep sea.' What is wrong with this statement?
- The ocean floor has already been fully mapped by satellites
- Divers have already visited every trench
- Most of the deep ocean floor is still unexplored

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Exploring the Deep Ocean W1-mt_1m5ItPiwUK-s1

Satellites · Satellites in space take pictures of the ocean's surface and track its currents.
An ROV · ROVs are robots that scientists control from a ship above, so no diver needs to go into the dangerous deep water.
False · Only a small part of the deep ocean has been explored. Most of it is still a mystery.
We know the Moon's surface better than the ocean floor · Even though the ocean is right here on Earth, its depths are harder to reach than the Moon in space.
Pressure would crush a diver · Deep ocean pressure is powerful enough to crush a human body, but ROVs are built to survive it.
The diver cannot see without strong lights · Below a certain depth, no sunlight reaches the water, so explorers need bright lights to see anything at all.
An ROV, because it can survive the pressure and carries lights and cameras · At that depth, only a robot like an ROV can survive the pressure and darkness while sending back images.
Most of the deep ocean floor is still unexplored · Scientists have only explored a small fraction of the deep ocean. There is likely much more to discover.