Rock Shake Lab pt. 1

This week we are talking about weathering, the process that breaks down rock at Earth's surface. There are all kinds of things that contribute to weathering like ice, rain, heat and the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

We are exploring the effects of mechanical and chemical weathering on limestone in our Rock Shake lab. Check out the video and see if you can see the difference between the two samples.

Science Fair

This week students will get information on choosing a science fair question either from a pre-approved list or on their own.

Some great Earth Science questions are listed here.

You can access a copy of the Project Proposal Form that is due this week click -----> here.
The Variables and Hypothesis worksheet is available by clicking ------> here as well.

Some Crystals from our crystal garden!!

Crystal Garden

Unit 3 Notes on Minerals

Fill out your guided notes from the slides below. When everyone at your table has them complete you will earn a reward.

Unit 2 Notes

Practice up on your density calculations also. Click here and here for some extra practice. Remember Density = Mass / Volume.

Jeopardy game on the structure of an atom here.

Unit 7 Study Guide 2010

1. Friction is the force that opposes motion and transforms work into heat. Friction can be decreased by adding things like oil or water onto two surfaces that are rubbing together. Friction can be increased by adding things like sand or grit between two surfaces.


2. Know the three classes of levers:
1st Class— Fulcrum in the middle
2nd Class—Load (output force) is in the middle
3rd Class— Effort (input force) is in the middle


3. Power is work divided by _________ .


4. Work happens when an object is moved a distance by a force. If two forces are going the same direction they add together. If they are going opposite directions they will subtract from each other.


5. Machines make work easier.


6. Why do machines give us less work out than we put in? Where is our work going (what does it become)?


7. Efficiency compares the output of a machine to the input: Efficiency = output work/input work x 100%


8. How do you increase the Mechanical Advantage of a lever, pulley, and inclined plane?

9. Inclined planes (ramps) that are __________ have more Mechanical Advantage.

10. In a diagram, how do you know if forces are balanced or unbalanced?

Also, check out these videos of simple machines!!!

Unit 7 Guided Notes 2010

Just in case you can't find your notes....