Geologists study the interesting characteristics of rocks.
Geology is the branch of science concerned with the earth's physical structure and the processes that act upon it. There are plenty of project ideas based on geology, which allow you to witness different aspects of geology in action before your eyes. Be sure to follow health and safety procedure and wear protective clothing when conducting geology experiments.
Water Movement and Erosion
Use this basic geology project to demonstrate that the movement of water alone can cause erosion. Line up three identical plastic drinking cups and place three small, same-colored candy-coated chocolates in the bottom of each cup. Fill two of your cups half way up with distilled water, labeling one "movement," and the other "still." Place only a piece of candy in the third cup. Start the experiment by swirling the movement cup for 15 seconds. Repeat this swirling motion once every 15 minutes for two hours, then observe the levels of erosion in each cup. ocean striking cliff faces, and why this leads to erosion.
Forming Fossils
A simple fossil learning project can replicate the conditions under which fossils form in mud. Start with a large leaf that you will use as a mold for your project. Then, find a piece of cardboard that is larger than that leaf, such as the lid from a shoebox. Mix Plaster of Paris until it forms a smooth paste, then smear that paste across the entirety of the shoebox lid into an inch-deep layer. Cover the leaf in petroleum jelly, then place it carefully on the surface of the wet plaster. Once the plaster hardens, you will have created what amounts to a fossil replica. Use this to teach students about how fossils are formed.
Chemical Weathering
Chemical weathering is the impact that weather conditions, particularly rain and snow, have on various landscapes and buildings. Polluted precipitation is often highly acidic. To demonstrate the effects of weather erosion, demonstrate what happens when various of acidic solutions come into prolonged contact with ordinary chalk. Place equal-sized sticks of white chalk in the bottom of several beakers. Add water to one, and different concentrations of water and vinegar to the others. Observe the chalk once every 10 minutes for an hour before drawing a conclusion about acidity and chemical weathering.
Soil Type and Liquefaction
Soil liquefaction is a geological phenomenon that is nearly universal, and is easily demonstrated with a simple series of buckets. Set an ordinary brick on the top of pails filled with sand, clay and loam. Keeping track of time with a stopwatch, add 100ml of water to each bucket every two minutes. When the brick starts sinking, the soil has begun liquefying. Calculate the amount of water required to liquefy each of the soils and consider how soil liquefaction is a problem for large buildings built on soil.
Tags: every minutes, once every, once every minutes
