Icebreaker

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/icebreaker

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the vessel classification?Special-purpose icebreaking ship
2. What is the hull construction?Features high-tensile steel, significantly reinforced, with specialized ice belts
3. How does an icebreaker break ice?It has a very strong hull, a special bow shape that rides up onto the ice, and powerful engines that push and crack the ice.
4. Why do countries build icebreakers?Countries use icebreakers to keep ports open, help trade and research, and show they can work safely in the Arctic.

Displacement: The weight of water that a ship pushes aside, indicating its size and buoyancy.
Hydrodynamics: The study of how water flows around objects and the forces involved.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): A maritime area where a country has special rights regarding exploration and resource use.