Gizmo Weathering Student Exploration Work
Introduction to Environmental Science (Arizona State University
, lOMoAR cPSD| 12928728
Name: Date:
Student Explora.tion: Wea.thering
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simula.tion. Respond to the questions a.nd
prompts in the ora.nge boxes.
Voca.bula.ry: a.bra.sion, chemica.l wea.thering, cla.y forma.tion, clima.te, dissolving, frost wedging, gra.nite,
limestone, mecha.nica.l wea.thering, rusting, sa.ndstone, sha.le, wea.thering
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.) Compa.re
the two pictures a.t right. Both pictures show the sa.me kind of rock, gra.nite.
Gizmo
1. Which rock do you think has been exposed on Earth’s Wa.rm-
surface longer? up
When
B rocks
a.re
2. Why do you think so?
Rounded and worn edges, and smooth.
). What do you notice?
exposed on
Ea.rth’s surfa.ce, they a.re gra.dua.lly
broken down into soil by the a.ctions of
ra.in, ice, wind, a.nd living orga.nisms. This process is ca.lled wea.thering. In the Wea.thering Gizmo, you will
explore how wea.thering ta.kes pla.ce.
To begin, select the SIMULA.TION ta.b. Notice the selected Rock type is Gra.nite, a. ha.rd, dense rock.
1. Click Pla.y ( ). Wa.it for a.bout 5,000 simula.ted yea.rs, a.nd click Pa.use (
Very little
2. Click Fa.stpla.y ( ). Wa.it for a.bout 50,000 simula.ted yea.rs. Wha.t do you notice?
Very little
3. Ba.sed on your observa.tions, is wea.thering a. fa.st or slow process?
It’s a. slow process.
Reproduction for educa.tiona.l use only. Public sha.ring or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLea.rning™ A.ll rights reserved
A.ctivity A.: Get the Gizmo rea.dy:
Types of ● Select the A.NIMA.TION ta.b. Check tha.t Frost
wea.thering wedging is selected.
Introduction: Mecha.nica.l wea.thering occurs when rocks a.re physica.lly broken or worn down. Chemica.l
wea.thering occurs when the minera.ls in the rock a.re cha.nged by chemica.l rea.ctions.