VanCleave's Science Fun

Your Guide to Science Projects, Fun Experiments, and Science Research

ABOUT THE SOUND PICTURE

With mouth wide open, vibrating air coming up the throat from the vocal chords leaving the open mouth and spreading in all directions. Hi, I am Janice VanCleave, author of 50+ best-selling science experiment books for children ages 4 through high school. I taught science for 27 years and now am creating this science website.   My scream was not staged. The picture was to be of two adult cats, which I was holding. A microsecond before the camera snapped, the two cats dug their claws into my skin as they prepared to leap out of my arms. A picture like this is great for making inferences. Kids could make "guesses" as to why I am screaming. They would be drawing on facts from the photo, such as I look like I am in pain or maybe I am just pretending.

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Home » Sedimentary Rock

Sedimentary Rock

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Rocks are made in different ways. One rock type is called sedimentary, which is a form of rock made by the deposition and compression of small particles. Sediment is made of soil particles. The deposition of sediment means that it has been transported from one place to another and over time builds up, layer by layer. Compaction is the process by which the particles are pressed together.

rock-sedimentary1

While disposing waste paper, you can demonstrate deposition and compaction.

Demonstrate Deposition using these steps:

bullet-green-round2 Loosely wad separate pieces of waste paper, such as newspaper or discarded craft paper.

bullet-green-round2 Place the wadded paper in a container, such as a trash can or even a box.

bullet-green-round2 Measure or mark the height of the wadded paper in its container.

bullet-green-round2 Use your foot to press the paper wads down in the container.Results: The height of the paper initially is greater than the height after pressing it with your foot. Why? Placing the paper wads in the waste can represents deposition, which is the buildup of sediments. Stepping on the paper wads represents compaction ( process of particles being pressed together). Your weight presses the pieces of paper together so that they take up less volume. This happens to sediments in water. Newly deposited sediments, like the wads of paper, have spaces between them. Water fills these spaces. But when more sediments are deposited, the weight of the new layers presses on underlying layers of sediments. This causes the water to be squeezed out and the particles pack tightly together.

Rocks and Minerals

Rocks and Minerals

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