The Rock Cycle Review - Weekly Blog (9/10-9/16)

The rock cycle by Tasman Walker

Summary

Geology is the study of rocks. In other words, it is the study of the structure of the planet, and the various forces that make and make and shape the earth. The three main types of rocks are igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks. These rocks are classified by how they look, and how they are formed. There are five transformations that can affect a rock. These include heat & pressure, melting, cooling, weathering & erosion, and compacting & cementing. Whenever a transformation takes place, a rock will change from one form to another, traveling through the rock cycle!

The first type of rock is a sedimentary rock. Sedimentary rocks are formed from particles of sand, pebbles, shells, and sediments. The sediments gradually create layers and eventually harden into rock. They are made of sediments that have been deposited and then pressed together. Sedimentary rocks are pretty soft and may break apart easily. There are sediments visible in the rock, and this is the only rock that contains fossils. Some examples of sedimentary rocks are conglomerate and limestone.

Igneous rocks are formed when molten material from beneath the Earth's surface cools and hardens. The magma cools either inside of the Earth (Intrusive,) or erupts from volcanoes in the form of lava (extrusive.) The magma cools very quickly and no crystals will form. This leaves the rock looking shiny and glass-like. Occasionally, when igneous rocks are cooling, gas bubbles get trapped in the rock which leaves tiny holes and spaces in the rock. Some examples of igneous rocks are basalt and obsidian.

Metamorphic rocks are formed under the surface of the earth when an existing rock is changed (metamorphosis) by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions. Metamorphic rocks have ribbon-like layers or shiny crystals from minerals slowly growing over time on their surface of the rock. Some examples of metamorphic rocks include gneiss and marble. 

SP3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

In class, we conducted an investigation to show how various rocks change form during the rock cycle. We demonstrated how rocks are formed due to weathering & erosion, heat & pressure, compacting & cementing, melting, and cooling. Questions that I identified include 'what various factors affect how various rocks are formed?', and 'what are some differences between each type of rock?' This investigation has helped us see how various rocks are transformed throughout the rock cycle and visually understand how the rock cycle works.

XCC: Cause and Effect

This week, I observed a cause and effect relationship between a transformation, and how this effects the new rock that it creates, For example, the cause of heat and pressure may lead to the effect of metamorphic rocks being formed. This cause and effect relationship also happens with igneous and sedimentary rocks. When magma cools, (cause,) it leads to the creation of igneous rocks (effect.) We tested this relationship in class by adding various transformations to a starburst and see what the outcome, or rock, would be. Noticing this relationship has helped me learn more about the rock cycle and how various transformations can affect a rock.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Musical Instruments and Sound- Weekly Blog (3/11-3/15)

Image
Sound Energy - Musical Instruments by SolPass Summary We understand how sound is produced, and how sound waves can travel through different mediums, but how do musical instruments produce sound? There are hundreds of instruments in the world, producing various pitches, tones, and chords. There are three main types of instruments: wind, percussion, and string. The sound is produced differently based on the type of instrument. The first type of instrument is a string instrument. In a string instrument, the sound is created from the vibration of strings. For example, when you play guitar, you pull on the strings. As the strings vibrate, the air molecules start vibrating as well, producing sound. The next type of instruments are wind and brass instruments and are made when we blow sound into them. The shape and position of the instrument affect the overall tone and pitch. The most common kind of wind instrument is a reed instrument. Blowing on the reed causes it to vibrate, mak
Read more

The Food Chain (10/26-10/30)

Image
This is an example of a land food chain http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/foodchain/foodchain2.htm Summary: This week in class we started to learn about the food chain. We watched a video about the food chain, and then we had to answer a few questions. First you need to know that food chains always start with plants and end with animals. But remember, humans are animals. Humans are usually at the top of the food chain. But that does not means that they are always at the top, what if a lion ate the human! Then the lion would be at the top of the food chain. There are different types of food chains. If you want to see a full list then go to this website: http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-food-chains.html . In the video they talked about the ocean food chain. The ocean food chain is a food chain that happens in the ocean. Here is an example of an ocean food chain: phytoplankton (tiny little plants), get eaten by zooplankton (tiny animals
Read more

African Forest Elephants (2/5-2/9)

Image
https://c402277.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/photos/1019/images/story_full_width/Forest_Elephant_7.30.2012_hero_and_circle_HI_8480.jpg?1345583833 Summary: The African forest elephant is an herbivore, and commonly eats leaves, fruit, and bark. African forest elephants range from 2.5 - 3 meters in height, weighing from 50-200 pounds. Their color is usually brown and grey, and even though other coloring is possible, it is very rare. They live for about 60-70 years, which is quite a lot compared to some other forest animals. The African Forest Elephant lives in Central and Southern Africa, traveling through the forests and grasslands searching for food and water.  Why Endangered: The populations of these Forest Elephants is decreasing because of illegal poaching. The poachers kill the elephants for their ivory tusks to sell. They are also decreasing because of habitat destruction such as deforestation, which results in less food and shelter, which they need to survive. According to defen
Read more