Weathering & Erosion Lab Comparing & Contrasting Different Earth Samples

Essential Question: What happens to the Earth when wind, burrows, buildings, and rain weather Erode it?

Step One-Observe 4 Earth Samples What type of Earth would you build on? Grass Lands Sand Dirt Rooted Earth

Step 2-Wind Erosion Can you see the effects of weathering/erosion? Which of 4 types of soil was affected most by the wind?

Step 3-Effects of burrowing animals/digging holes Does this effect weathering and erosion of the Earth? Observer the results We will use a skewer to create holes to simulate burrowing

What did you notice? Hopefully, that roots created a barrier, around the soil.

Now we will attempt to simulate the effects of acid rain Are you still thinking about where you would like to build?

Step 4-Acid Rain We will drop one full eye dropper on each mold. (Observe the results)

Which plot has the most stability for your home? Are you noticing the effects building can have on earth? Now we are going to add a light shower by using a spray bottle. What do you notice?

Step 5-Simulate Dust Storm We will use a hair dryer to demonstrate the effects the wind would have had on the loose soil during Dust Bowl.

Erosion Process by which surface of the earth is worn away by action of water, glaciers, wind, and waves.

Weathering Chemical process that causes exposed rock to decompose