Types of Rocks
This type of rock forms when melted magma or lava cools and hardens.
What is igneous rock?
This mineral property describes how a mineral shines—glassy, metallic, dull, or shiny.
What is luster?
This process breaks down rocks into smaller pieces using wind, water, ice, temperature changes, or plants.
What is physical weathering?
A resource that can be replaced naturally in a short time is called what?
What is a renewable resource?
An experiment tests a cause-and-effect relationship, while this type of investigation simply involves observing and recording.
What is an observational investigation?
This rock type forms from small pieces of other rocks or fossils that get compacted and cemented together.
What is sedimentary rock?
This property describes how easily a mineral can be scratched.
What is hardness?
This process moves broken rock to new places by gravity, wind, water, or ice.
What is erosion?
Coal is used to produce electricity, but it cannot be replaced within a human lifetime. What type of resource is coal?
What is a nonrenewable resource?
True or false: All scientific investigations follow the exact same steps called “the scientific method.”
False
These rocks form when other rocks change because of heat and pressure deep within Earth.
What are metamorphic rocks?
When a mineral breaks along smooth, flat surfaces, it is showing what property?
What is cleavage?
A glacier picks up rocks and carries them away. Is this weathering or erosion?
What is erosion?
Fresh water, used by homes and crops, is considered which type of resource?
What is a renewable resource?
Science relies on observations that are testable and explanations supported by what?
What is evidence?
Obsidian forms from lava cooling very quickly, giving it a glassy look. Obsidian is which rock type?
What is igneous?
A teacher describes a mineral as “greasy or shiny, but not like glass.” What property is being described?
What is luster?
A rock cracks in winter when water freezes and expands. What process is this?
What is physical weathering?
This Florida resource is widely used in building materials and is the likely material used for many historic buildings.
What is limestone?
“December was the prettiest month” is not a scientific observation. Why?
Because it is an opinion, not a measurable fact
A rock that contains visible layers and is formed from weathered rock particles over millions of years would be classified as what?
What is a sedimentary rock?
This test involves rubbing a mineral across a tile to observe the color of its powdered form.
What is streak color?
A class recorded rock crack measurements and temperature changes. The rock cracked most during cold months. Which process is responsible?
What is weathering caused by ice?
Name two renewable energy resources found in Florida.
What are wind and solar energy?
In the rock‑cracking investigation, students measured crack size each month. Why is this considered a valid observation?
Because it uses measurable, recorded data rather than opinion.