Vocabulary (refer to vocab file located on the Gizmo site for definitions): abrasion,
chemical weathering, clay formation, climate, dissolving, frost wedging, granite,
limestone, mechanical weathering, rusting, sands
...
Vocabulary (refer to vocab file located on the Gizmo site for definitions): abrasion,
chemical weathering, clay formation, climate, dissolving, frost wedging, granite,
limestone, mechanical weathering, rusting, sandstone, shale, weathering
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE
using the Gizmo.)
Compare the two pictures at right. Both pictures show
the same kind of rock, granite.
1. Which rock do you think has been exposed on
Earth’s surface longer? I think B has been on
earth longer than the others.
2. Why do you think so? I think it is old because it
is a round worn out smooth rock.
Gizmo Warm-up
When rocks are exposed on Earth’s surface, they are
gradually broken down into soil by the actions of rain,
ice, wind, and living organisms. This process is called
weathering. In the Weathering Gizmo™, you will
explore how weathering takes place.
To begin, select the SIMULATION tab. Notice the
selected Rock type is Granite, a hard, dense rock.
1. Click Play ( ). Wait for about 5,000 simulated years, and click Pause ( ). What do
you notice? The rock grew or changed very little it was like nothing happened.
2. Click Fastplay ( ). Wait for about 50,000 simulated years. What do you notice?
Again, like last time very little happened because it takes a rock a lot of years
for you to notice a big change.
3. Based on your observations, is weathering a fast or slow process?
Bases on what I watched weathering is a slow process.
Activity A:
Types of
weathering
Get the Gizmo ready:
Select the ANIMATION tab. Check that Frost
wedging is selected.
Introduction: Mechanical weathering occurs when rocks are physically broken or
worn down. Chemical weathering occurs when the minerals in the rock are changed
by chemical reactions.
Question: What are the most common ways in which weathering occurs?
1. Observe: Read the text about frost wedging, then click Play.
A. In the process of frost wedging, how does ice cause cracks in rocks to
become larger? Ice can crack rocks because when water turns into ice it
expands and that’s how the r
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