Name: Naomy Martinez
Date: 9/15/20
Format responses in blue bold font.
Student Exploration: Weathering
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: Get the Gizmo ready:
Types of Select the ANIMATION tab. Check that Frost
weathering 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 Dissolution: Carbonation
Date: 9/15/20
Format responses in blue bold font.
Student Exploration: Weathering
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: Get the Gizmo ready:
Types of Select the ANIMATION tab. Check that Frost
weathering 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 Dissolution: Carbonation
