Methods 2: Week 11

 

1.What did you do in lab today?

In the lab today, we used a microscope to look at different sand-like materials in order to classify them depending on their characteristics. We had three categories that we could classify the materials into: water, glaciers, and wind. These categories described what formed the materials. In terms of classifying the materials, it was pretty easy to classify them as wind/water between and  glaciers. However, differentiating between water and glaciers was sometimes difficult. The only difference between the two is that glacier-created materials are irregular in size. Which can be subtle. The activity was very fun, though, and I specifically liked looking at our own items. I put my AirPods under the microscope, and they were disgusting. 

        2.What was the big question?

How can we differentiate between materials that were formed by water, glaciers, and the wind? 

   3.What did you learn in Thursday’s discussion?

At the beginning of the lab, we tested the buoyancy of different beverages. Regular pops tended to sink, and the diet pop floated. Then we read a story about how a king tried to figure out if a crown that he received was actually made of gold. In order to test his crown, he cut a piece of it or took a gold piece of the equivalent size and placed them both in full tank of water. If the crown was made of pure gold, then the same amount of water would fall out of the tank. Because the crown and the gold would be just as dense as one another. In order to find specific gravity, use the formula W (air)/W(air)- W (Water).  

2. Read the online textbook

       1.What did you learn?

In this chapter, I learned more in depth about different types of rocks, including igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. I have learned these concepts in previous classes, but it has been a minute, so the chapter was a nice reminder. Igneous rocks form when magma cools, and sedimentary rocks form from sediments compacting together. Metamorphic rocks form because of extreme heat and pressure acting on rocks. Additionally, I learned more about the rock cycle, which describes how rocks undergo various transformations as they change from one type to another. Geodes were also described in the chapter. They formed within different types of rocks, and we use Archimedes principle to determine their geodes. 

       2.What was most helpful?

The explanation of the rock cycle was very helpful, as was the visual. It made it easy to follow how rocks can undergo different processes like erosion, weathering, and melting to change into other types of rocks. Additionally, I liked the Archimedes video, which made it more apparent how geologists use the principle to determine the composition of geodes. 

       3.What do you need more information on?

I would like to get more practice identifying different types of rocks in order to classify them. I feel pretty confident with the actual content behind igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, but I’m unsure of how I would actually classify rocks between them. 

3.What questions, concerns, and/or comments do you have?

I don’t have any lingering questions, comments, or concerns at the moment.