We encourage you to pursue independent research projects. Science moves forward through research! Try one of the suggestions below or design your own. Or, feel free to write an essay using any of the questions throughout this unit as inspiration.

• Working With Coastlines. Obtain a printed map of your favorite coastline (a good source is Mapquest). Using calipers or a pencil compass "walk'' along the coastline with different step sizes. Construct a table similar to that produced in the Coastline program. Determine the fractal dimension by hand and using the computer program. Write a report which discusses the role of multiple measurements and a comparison of your hand measurements to the computer measurements.

• Formation of Natural Fractals. As a variation, trace the evolution in time of the fractal dimension of a natural fractal such as a coastline as it is formed. You are asking the question: what is the fractal dimension after each step in the creation process? Does this change in dimension in terms of the natural process of erosion.

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