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Weathering and Erosion: Simulating Rock Attack in the Lab
http://www.rsc.org/education/teachers/learnnet/jesei/weather/index.htm
From DLESE Community Collection (DCC)
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These activities examine the ways in which water can weather rocks. Simulations of erosion by running water, solution, freeze?thaw and by wind are investigated. Several class laboratory and demonstration activities simulate some of the processes occurring in weathering and erosion. They include a look at the effect of pouring water onto brown sugar to simulate the effect of water on soluble rock, observing the residue left after water samples have evaporated to show that water can dissolve minerals, showing that water expands on freezing by placing a sealed jar of water in the freezer overnight, and inspection of the effect of freezing on a water-soaked sample of porous rock. In addition, an activity simulates the effect of water impact on rocks by pouring water on sand and another uses a hair dryer to simulate wind erosion by sandblasting copper sulfate crystals.
Intended for grade levels:
  • Middle (6-8)
Type of resource:
  • For the classroom:
    • Lab activity
Subject:
  • Geological Sciences:
    • Geology
Technical requirements:
No specific technical requirements, just a browser required
Cost / Copyright:
No cost
Copyright is waived for original material published on this site if the material is required for use within the laboratory or classroom. The copyright of material reproduced by permission of other publishers rests with the originating publisher.
DLESE Catalog ID: DLESE-000-000-006-588
Educational standards:
  • National Science Education Standards (NSES):
    • 5-8:
      • Unifying concepts and processes:
        • Evidence, models, and explanation
      • A - Science as inquiry:
        • Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
      • B - Physical science:
        • Properties and changes of properties in matter
      • D - Earth and space science:
        • Structure of the earth system
Resource contact / Creator / Publisher:
Publisher: Joint Earth Science Education Initiative (JESEI)