Gizmos Student Exploration: Weathering

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Vocabulary (refer to vocab file located on the Gizmo site for definitions): abrasion, chemical weathering, clay formation, climate, dissolving, frost wedging, granite, limestone, mechanical weathe ... ring, 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 rocks crack. B. Is frost wedging more important in a warm or a cold climate? Wedging is more important in cold climate. 2. Observe: Read about and look at the animations for the other major types of weathering: Abrasion, Pressure release, Dissolving, Clay formation, and Rusting. A. What are three different ways that rocks can be worn down by abrasion? They can be worn out by sand being carried out by wind, sediment being carried by water, and maybe stones that are being dragged by glaciers. B. How can a large block of granite form layers like an onion? When garnet is in the top lay with less pressure then in the lay it was before this caused it to ship and break. C. What type of rock is affected by dissolving, and what features result? Limestone rock is affected by acidic rain and it can result in underground caves and streams. D. How does clay formation affect a rock? Clay absorbs water and because of this it expands and causes rocks to break and turn into clay. E. Which part of a rock will undergo rusting? When iron in rocks oxidizes it undergoes rusting. 3. Fill in: Scientists use the terms “oxidation,” “carbonation,” “hydrolysis,” and “exfoliation” for different types of weathering. Fill in each blank with the appropriate term. Pressure release: Exfoliation Dissolu [Show More]

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