Names____________________________ Date____________ Period____ Weathering Lab
Purpose: Students will investigate the processes of mechanical and chemical weathering.
Directions: Label and record all data and answer all questions on your own paper. Answer all
parts of each question. No credit will be given for incomplete answers.
Materials: 2 plastic cups, 2 stir sticks, 1 container, 9 cubes of sugar, water (hot & cold),
timer
Part A: The Abrasion of Sugar Cubes
A. Take 5 sugar cubes.
B. Make a sketch of what one average sugar cube looks like prior to shaking and draw this in
your data table.
C. Place the sugar cubes in the container.
D. Now shake your sugar cubes 10 times.
E. Open the container and look at the size and shape of the cubes.
F. Sketch the general appearance of one of the sugar cubes.
G. Record this in your data table.
H. Repeat this procedure 5 times.
Shaking Trial
0 Shakes
Drawing of Sugar Cube
10 Shakes
Another 10 shakes (now totals 20 shakes)
Another 10 shakes (now totals 30 shakes)
Another 10 shakes (now totals 40 shakes)
Another 10 shakes (now totals 50 shakes)
Answer the following questions:
1. What specific changes did you notice in the sugar cubes?
2. What was happening to the cubes during shaking that caused these changes?
3. Were these changes due to chemical or physical weathering?
4. Describe where this occurs in nature.
Procedure B: The Effect of Surface Area and Temperature on Weathering
A.
B.
C.
D.
Place two sugar cubes on a piece of paper.
Carefully crush one, try not to lose any of the mass.
Fill two glasses with some water – just enough to cover one sugar cube.
Place the whole sugar cube in one glass of water and the crushed sugar cube in the second
glass of water.
E. Stir the water gently and record the amount of time it takes for each mass of sugar to
dissolve.
Form
Time to Dissolve
Full Sugar Cube
Crushed Sugar Cube
Explain:
1. Which mass of sugar dissolved more quickly, the full cube or the crushed cube? Why?
2. Were these changes due to chemical or physical weathering?
3. Describe where this occurs in nature?
Part C:
A. Fill one glass up with cold water and one with hot water (about half way in each).
B. Place a sugar cube in each of the glasses.
C. Stir the water gently and record the amount of time it takes for each to dissolve.
Form
Time to Dissolve
Cube in Cold Water
Cube in Hot Water
Explain:
4. Which sugar cube dissolved more quickly, the one in the cold water or the one in the hot
water? Why?
5. Were these changes due to chemical or physical weathering?
6. Describe where this occurs in nature.
Conclusion
1. What is the difference between physical and chemical weathering?
2. Which factors affect the rates of physical and chemical weathering? (Hint: Which factors did
you test in this lab?)
3. Where can you see physical and chemical weathering on a daily basis?
Erosion – Virtual Lab Part II
Go to www.youtube.com and search for: Erosion Lab skeyscience then click on the link for the
video. Answer the following questions based on the video.
1. Draw a sketch of the beach before and after. What does wave action do to the beach?
Before
After
Explanation
2. Draw a sketch of the beach before and after. What action does wind have on the movement
of pebbles versus the grains of sand?
Before
After
Explanation
3. Draw a sketch of the area before and after. Where do the larger rocks go and where does
the finer sediment end up as the ‘river’ reaches the ocean?
Before
After
Explanation
4. Draw a sketch of the mountain before and after. What affect does the rain have on the
mountain?
Before
After
Explanation
5. Draw a sketch of the mountain before and after. What affect do the ‘trees’ have on the
mountain versus the parts that have no ‘trees’?
Before
After
Explanation