Minerals and Rocks
Rocks
Soils
Resources
Miscellaneous
100
Why are minerals important to us?
We can use minerals to make things, we also need to eat some minerals to stay healthy.
100
What are the three types of rocks?
The three types of rocks are igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary.
100
Identify the layers of soil from top to bottom.
The layers of soil from top to bottom are topsoil, subsoil, and bedrock.
100
Why don't more places use renewable energy resources such as solar energy or wind energy?
More places do not use solar energy or wind energy because they do not get enough sun or wind to use these as constant energy resources.
100
A soil sample has very large grains so it feels rough and scratchy. When water is added, most of the water flows right through the sample, so the soil is very dry. What type of soil is this? A. Clay B. Sand C. Loam
B. Sand
200
Name two common minerals and identify their uses.
Possible answers include: Halite is used in table salt, Graphite is used in pencils, Quartz is used to make glass for windows, Gold is used in jewelry (or in coins), Garnet is used in jewelry, Amethyst is used in jewelry.
200
Why are rocks important to us?
Rocks are important to us because we use them to build and make many things such as concrete, roof tiles, sculptures, countertops, and other items.
200
What are the four components (parts) of soil?
The four components of soil are weathered rock, humus, air, and water.
200
What is conservation?
Conservation is saving resources by using them wisely.
200
A soil sample has tiny particles that clump together. When water is added, the soil sample sticks together into a ball. What type of soil is this? A. Clay B. Sand C. Loam
A. Clay
300
What is a rock?
A rock is a solid object that is found in nature and it is made up of one or more minerals.
300
You find a rock that has many layers. There are small pieces of material in the rock. What type of rock is this most likely to be? Why do you think so?
This rock is a sedimentary rock because they form when material settles into layers and the layers are then squeezed together to harden and form a rock.
300
What is one way that people can conserve soil?
Possible answers include: Farmers can use strip cropping or contour plowing to save soil, farmers can stop tilling their fields, or people could plant more plants so that their roots hold the soil in place.
300
Identify three nonrenewable energy resources.
Three nonrenewable energy resources are the three fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas.
300
A soil sample has a good mix of sand, silt, and clay. It also has a lot of humus. It is very good for growing plants. What type of soil is this? A. Clay B. Sand C. Loam
C. Loam
400
What is a mineral?
A mineral is a solid object that is found in nature and has never been alive.
400
You are hiking by a volcano and you find a rock that is dark black and very shiny. What type of rock is this most likely to be? Why do you think so?
This rock is most likely to be an igneous rocks because they form when melted rock cools and hardens and they are often found near volcanoes.
400
Why is it important that we conserve soil? (Hint: What type of resource is soil?)
It is important that we conserve soil because it is a nonrenewable resource, meaning it cannot be replaced in a human lifetime. Soil takes hundreds or thousands of years to form, so we must save what we have.
400
Identify three renewable energy resources.
Renewable energy resources include solar energy, wind energy, energy from moving water (hydroelectric energy), geothermal energy (energy from the heat deep inside the the earth), and biomass energy (energy from living things like plants).
400
Identify and describe three ways you can conserve resources.
I can conserve resources by following the three Rs: recycle, reduce, and reuse. Correct answers must include details of how to follow each one. For example: I can recycle glass, plastic, paper, and aluminum cans. I can reuse paper bags as wrapping paper. I can reduce the electricity I use by turning off the lights when I leave a room.
500
What is the rock cycle?
The rock cycle is the process in which one type of rock can change to another type of rock.
500
As a miner is digging deep in the earth's crust he comes across a rock that looks like it has been changed by temperature and pressure. What type of rock is this most likely to be? Why do you think so?
This is most likely to be a metamorphic rock because they are changed by pressure and temperature deep underground.
500
Why is soil an important natural resource?
Soil is an important natural resource because we use it to grow food and it has nutrients that all living things need.
500
Compare and contrast renewable and nonrenewable energy resources.
Renewable and nonrenewable energy resources can both be used to supply us with energy. Renewable energy resources can be replaced easily or cannot be used up, while nonrenewable energy resources cannot be replaced easily once they are used up.
500
What is weathering? What are four things that can cause weathering?
Weathering is the process in which rocks break down into small pieces. Wind, water, ice, and plant roots can all cause weathering.
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