11/13 Step 1 Rock Cycle Lab AP

Experiment:

Create a model of the three different types of rocks (sedimentary, metamorphic, & igneous) using starburst candy. Note: candy is for experimental purposes only and may not be eaten.

Materials Needed:

· Starburst candies (2 different colors)

· Scissors

· Plastic baggie

Directions (Part 1) :

1. Obtain 2 pieces of starburst candy from your teacher. Each starburst candy must be a different color. The starburst represent rock!

2. Remove the wrapper and cut each starburst candy into 3 strips using scissors.

3. Cut your strips into smaller squares by cutting each strip into thirds. Cutting represents weathering of the rock.

Directions (Part 2) compacting and cementation:

1. Divide your sediment into like colors. You should have two different groups.

2. Put down all of the sediment of one color

3. Put all of the other color on top and gently press down (so that you can still see the square shape but all of the pieces are squished together). This represents compacting and cementing.

DIAGRAM:

1. Draw what you have created in the correct box on the rock cycle diagram at the top of the page.

2. Draw an arrow from where you started (from part 1) to where you ended up (after part 2). Label the ARROW process you performed to get there.

Directions (Part 3) Heat and Pressure:

1. You will need to apply heat and pressure to make the next type of rock. Have you ever seen a person creating fire by rubbing two sticks together? They are using a concept called friction to create heat. We can apply this same principle to get our heat.

2. Place your starburst rock into a plastic baggie. Create friction by rubbing the rock between your hands and applying pressure at the same time. You will need to keep this up for at least one minute to generate the heat and pressure needed to create your next type of rock. Be careful not to break the plastic bag.

Directions (Part 4) Melthing:

9. To create our last type of rock, we will need some serious heat.

10. Place your "rock" on the plate

11. Heat in the microwave for 20 seconds

12. Let it cool until you can peel it off the plate.

DIAGRAM

1. Draw a picture of what you created in the correct box in the rock cycle diagram

2. Draw an arrow from where you started (from part 3) to where you ended up (after part 4). Label the arrow with process you performed to get there.

3. Lastly, go back and add the other possible pathways a rock could travel. For instance, what would need to happen in order to get the igneous rock you created back to sediment? You may refer to a rock cycle diagram to help label all of the possible pathways a rock could travel during the rock cycle.