U4 L4: The Flow of Energy Drives the Rock Cycle

Granite has only recently been exposed at a location on Earth’s surface. What will need to happen first in order for granite to become sedimentary rock?

• A thick layer of humus must form on top of the granite.

• The granite must be melted and then slowly cooled again.

• Weathering and erosion must move pieces of granite to other locations.

• Microorganisms must begin to break down the remains of plants and animals.

Declan observed a rock that he found at the beach. He concluded that the rock was sedimentary. Which observation best supports this conclusion?

• the yellow color

• the hardness of the rock

• the layers within the rock

• the location where the rock was found

Granite forms when magma slowly cools within Earth’s crust. Basalt forms when lava cools on Earth’s surface. What do granite and basalt have in common?

• They are kinds of igneous rock.

• They are not made up of minerals.

• They are identical in color and texture.

• They are made up of layers of sediment.

Freezing and thawing water can cause a rock to break into smaller pieces. Which part of the rock cycle is this an example of?

• melting

• deposition

• weathering

• subsidence

What do mudstone and sedimentary rocks formed from the remains of once-living plants and animals have in common?

• They are made up of the same kinds of minerals.

• They are formed from layers of sediment.

• They are formed when melted rock cools and hardens.

• They are made up of the remains of plants and animals

Margo is designing an experiment to investigate the rock cycle. She has written the following steps.

Step 1: Gather shavings from different colors of crayons.

Step 2: Place a small pile of shavings between sheets of waxed paper and press down on them lightly.

Step 3: Place a small pile of shavings between sheets of waxed paper and press down on them with great force.

Step 4: Compare the results produced in Steps 2 and 3.

Which question might Margo be investigating?

• How does the type of sediment affect the texture of igneous rock?

• How does the amount of sediment affect the type of rock that is formed?

• How does the pressure involved affect the formation of sedimentary rock?

• How does the original type of rock affect the composition of the metamorphic rock?

This rock was found near the mouth of a volcano. What type of rock is this?

• Sedimentary
• Igneous
• Metamorphic

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Each rock type can follow only one pathway of the rock cycle.

• True
• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

True or False: Once a rock is sedimentary, it cannot become an igneous rock.

• True
• False

This rock was formed when magma cooled very slowly inside the Earth. What specific type of rock is it?

• Intrusive Igneous Rock
• Extrusive Igneous Rock
• Foliated Metamorphic Rock
• Clastic Sedimentary Rock

Tags

NGSS.2-ESS1-1