The rock cycle involves the transformation of rocks between different types of rocks over millions of years. Rocks are broken down through weathering and erosion, then transported and deposited as sediments which may cement into sedimentary rock or be buried and transformed into metamorphic rock through heat and pressure. Metamorphic and sedimentary rocks can melt to form magma which cools and crystallizes into igneous rock, continuing the cycle.
The rock cycle involves the transformation of rocks between different types of rocks over millions of years. Rocks are broken down through weathering and erosion, then transported and deposited as sediments which may cement into sedimentary rock or be buried and transformed into metamorphic rock through heat and pressure. Metamorphic and sedimentary rocks can melt to form magma which cools and crystallizes into igneous rock, continuing the cycle.
The rock cycle involves the transformation of rocks between different types of rocks over millions of years. Rocks are broken down through weathering and erosion, then transported and deposited as sediments which may cement into sedimentary rock or be buried and transformed into metamorphic rock through heat and pressure. Metamorphic and sedimentary rocks can melt to form magma which cools and crystallizes into igneous rock, continuing the cycle.
The rock cycle involves the transformation of rocks between different types of rocks over millions of years. Rocks are broken down through weathering and erosion, then transported and deposited as sediments which may cement into sedimentary rock or be buried and transformed into metamorphic rock through heat and pressure. Metamorphic and sedimentary rocks can melt to form magma which cools and crystallizes into igneous rock, continuing the cycle.
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Rock Cycle Answer Key
Vocabulary: deposition, erosion, extrusive igneous rock, intrusive igneous rock, lava, lithification, magma, metamorphic rock, rock cycle, sediment, sedimentary rock, soil, weathering
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
[Note: The purpose of these questions is to activate prior knowledge and get students thinking. Students are not expected to know the answers to the Prior Knowledge Questions.]
1. What happens to hot lava after it erupts from a volcano?
Answers will vary. [Lava cools and hardens into rock.]
2. How does rock turn into soil?
Answers will vary. [Rock is broken down by ice, water, and the action of plants.]
3. The Mississippi River carries tons of tiny rock fragments called sediments into the Gulf of Mexico. What do you think will happen to these sediments after a few million years?
Answers will vary. [Over time, the sediments will be buried deeply and eventually will be cemented together to form a rock.]
Gizmo Warm-up Over millions of years, rocks are broken down and transformed into other rocks. The Rock Cycle Gizmo™ illustrates the different transformations that make up the rock cycle. Before exploring the Gizmo, take a look at the image.
1. What types of rocks are shown?
Igneous (intrusive and extrusive),
sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks are shown.
2. Magma is molten (liquid) rock under Earth’s surface. Based on the image, how do you think magma turns into extrusive igneous rock?
Magma comes out of a volcano, then cools and hardens into rock.
3. Click Extrusive igneous rock button to the right of the image. Were you correct? Answers will vary. Activity: Get the Gizmo ready: The rock cycle Click Start again.
Question: What is the rock cycle?
1. Observe: A cycle is a path with the same start and end. Create a rock cycle with the Gizmo.
A. Click Magma. How hot is magma? About 1000 degrees Celsius
B. Click Crystallization (below ground). What kind of rock is formed when magma
cools below the surface? Intrusive igneous rock
C. Click Exposure and weathering. What forms when rocks break down? Soil
D. Click Erosion and deposition. In what ways are sediments transported?
Sediments are transported by wind, rivers, or glaciers.
E. Click Lithification and compaction. (Lithification is hardening into rock.) What
kind of rock is formed from sediments? Sedimentary rock
F. Click Increase temp. and pressure. What kind of rock is formed? Metamorphic rock
G. Click Melt. What is formed when rocks melt deep underground? Magma
2. Describe: Select the PATH tab. What are the steps in this rock cycle?
Magma, intrusive igneous rock, soil, sediments, sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks, magma
3. On your own: On the SIMULATION tab, click Start again. In the spaces below, list three rock cycles. You can start anywhere, but each cycle must begin and end at the same point.
Student cycles will vary. Check that each cycle begins and ends at the same point.
4. Diagram: The image below summarizes the different stations in the rock cycle. Draw an arrow to represent each possible transition from one rock type to another. Then label each arrow with the process that occurs, such as “weathering” or “erosion and deposition.”
5. Practice: List the steps that would cause each transformation below.
A. Intrusive igneous rock sedimentary rock:
Exposure and weathering; erosion and deposition; and lithification and compaction
B. Metamorphic rock sediment:
Exposure and weathering; and erosion and deposition
C. Sediment sedimentary rock: Lithification and compaction
D. Sedimentary rock sediment:
Exposure and weathering; and erosion and deposition
