1. From RegentsEarth.com

2. Both particles have the same density, volume, and mass. The only difference between them is their SHAPE. Which will settle fastest? CLICK

3. These particles are exactly the same size, volume and shape. The blue particle has a density of 1.5g/cm 3. The red particle has density of 4.8g/cm 3. Which will settle fastest? CLICK

4. All the particles are made of the same material which means they all have the same density, and all have exactly the same shape. The only difference is their size (and therefore mass as well). Which particle(s) will settle fastest? CLICK

5. To sum up: Round particles settle faster than flat ones. More dense particles settle faster than those that are less dense. Large particles settle faster than smaller particles.

6. These particles are in suspension in a stream All the particles have the same density and shape but they vary in size. What will happen when the stream velocity decreases? The particles settle at different rates................. The largest particles settle at the fastest rate and end up on the bottom. Medium size particles settle more slowly...... The smallest particles settle at the slowest rate and end up on top. This is called VERTICAL SORTING. Particles are sorted from bottom to top. This pattern of sorting is usually the result a decrease in stream velocity.

7. When a stream enters a lake or the ocean its velocity decreases. When the velocity decreases the particles begin to settle to the bottom. The big particles settle first, close to the mouth of the stream. The smaller particles settle farther out into the ocean. This pattern is called HORIZONTAL SORTING and it occurs whenever a river or stream enters a large body of water, a lake or the ocean, and slows down.