Rock Transformations

Geologists have evidence of an igneous rock formation under Earth’s outer layer. Is it possible that material from this rock formation could ever form sedimentary rock on Earth’s surface?

• No, sedimentary rock can only form out of material from other sedimentary rock. There is no way that sedimentary rock can form from material in igneous rock.

• No, sedimentary rock forms at Earth’s surface because energy from the sun causes rock to weather, but igneous rock under Earth’s outer layer is not exposed to energy from the sun.

• Yes, energy from Earth’s interior can cause igneous rock to break into small rock pieces that can form sedimentary rock.

• Yes, if igneous rock is moved to Earth’s surface and exposed to energy from the sun, it could weather into small rock pieces that could form sedimentary rock.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Giovanni and his family go on a trip and they drive over a mountain range. Giovanni wonders how the rock they see as they drive over the mountain range might be different when they drive back home next week. What would you tell Giovanni about how the rock will change?

• The rock will probably change a lot. Rock is always changing and transforming.

• The rock is not likely to change very much. Most rock transformation processes happen very slowly.

• The rock will not change at all. Rock just stays as it is.

• The rock might change if it is the right season.

Africa and Europe are very close to each other, but they used to be far apart. Which diagram below shows what happened to the plates that Africa and Europe are part of?

• Diagram A: The plates hit each other and broke into pieces, creating sand.

• Diagram B: The plates pushed against each other, causing the edges to bend upward.

• Diagram C: One plate went underneath the other plate and sank into the soft rock below.

• Diagram D: One plate went underneath the other plate and sank into the ocean below.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Dr. Nomura is a geologist who studies rock formations from the Cretaceous period of Earth’s history. His most recent study compares rocks from rock formations in two different locations. The information from the study is as follows: -Rock A formed from small pieces of rock. -Rock B formed from liquid rock in a different place. -Rocks A and B formed at about the same time in the Cretaceous period. Dr. Nomura wants to write a report to other geologists. Are Rocks A and B the same or different types of rock?

• different types because they formed in different places.

• different types because they formed in different ways.

• the same type because they formed at the same time.

• the same type because they both formed from rock material.

How could energy have played a role in the different rock types forming?

• Energy from different sources leads to different types of rock. Energy inside Earth melts rock into liquid rock, but energy from the sun causes rock to weather into small pieces of rock.

• Energy causes different types of rock to change in different ways. Energy changes igneous rock into liquid rock and changes sedimentary rock into small pieces of rock.

• Energy changes rock on different continents in different ways. Each continent on Earth has different rock that might form liquid rock or small rock pieces when exposed to energy.

• Energy caused one rock type to form, but not the other. Rock that forms because of energy is a different type of rock than rock that forms without energy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Every day on his ride to school, Max sees some sedimentary rock. He starts to wonder: Could material from this sedimentary rock ever form igneous rock?

• No, igneous rock can only form out of other igneous rock. Sedimentary rock cannot change into igneous rock.

• No, igneous rock forms under Earth’s outer layer due to energy from Earth’s interior, but sedimentary rock is only at Earth’s surface.

• Yes, if sedimentary rock is exposed to energy from the sun at Earth’s surface for a long enough time, it can melt into liquid rock and form igneous rock.

• Yes, if sedimentary rock is exposed to energy from the sun at Earth’s surface for a long enough time, it can melt into liquid rock and form igneous rock.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

On a hike up a mountain, Delilah sees small pieces of rock along the trail. The small pieces look just like the rock that the mountain is made from. How did these small pieces of rock break off from the mountain?

• Wind and rain interacted with the rock, breaking it into small pieces.

• The small pieces of rock were formed by earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters. These disasters were strong enough to break the rock into small pieces.

• Rays from the sun shone down on the rock, and it broke into pieces.

• If anything were left out for a long time, it would break into small pieces.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Dr. Garcia is a geologist from Peru, and Dr. Ferreira is a geologist from Brazil. They are comparing rocks from their areas for their research and have some information about them. The information is as follows:

-Rock A formed from small pieces of rock.
-Rock B formed from liquid rock in a different place.
-Rocks A and B formed at about the same time.

As they work on their study they need to answer the question: Are Rocks A and B the same or different types of rock?

The rocks are....

• the same type because they both formed from rock material.

• the same type because they formed at the same time.

• different types because they formed in different places.

• different types because they formed in different ways.

Isidro visits the same park every week. The park has lots of different rock formations. How does the rock at the park change from week to week?

• The rock might change if it is the right season.

• The rock is not likely to change very much. Most rock transformation processes happen very slowly.

• The rocks will not change at all. Rock just stays as it is.

• The rock will probably change a lot. Rock is always changing and transforming.

If one rock is formed from small pieces of rock. Another rock is formed from liquid rock in a different place. Both rocks formed at about the same time. Are the rocks the same or different types of rock?

• different types because they formed in different ways.

• the same type because they formed at the same time.

• different types because they formed in different places.

• the same type because they are both formed from rock material.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3