Day 12 in SCI110: The Rock Cycle and Plate Tectonics

Spring 2006 Schedule
Last time:
- Exam 1
Today:
- Return (and discussion) of Exam 1
  - Mean: 103
  - Best: 139.5
  - Standard Deviation: 19
- Discuss group projects
  - What is the null hypothesis? What is the alternative?
  - How much data is necessary?
  - Is your experiment replicable?
  - What analysis will you perform to reach your conclusion?
- The rock cycle
  - Tim and Moby on
    - types of rock
    - the rock cycle
  - Minerals
    - Naturally occurring
    - inorganic solid element or compound
    - crystalline structure
    - Examples: salt, quartz, "native elements" (e.g. gold)
    - Classified into silicates versus non-silicates (Table 15.1, p. 325)
  - Three types of rock (aggregations of one or more minerals):
    - igneous (from Latin ignis, meaning fire)
      - Extruded from magma
      - Examples: granite, obsidian, basalt, pumice
      - Blends of igneous rock from magma
    - sedimentary
      - made up of fragments of other rocks
      - show layers of deposition
      - sedimentary rocks may contain fossils
      - Examples: sandstone, limestone
    - metamorphic - "after - form"
      - sedimentary or igneous rocks that have been altered by heat and/or pressure
      - "foliations" (bands in the rock) may appear to be layers of deposition - watch out!
      - Examples: slate, marble
  - Rock identification (workbook p. 50, using some rock resources):
    - Rocks
    - Make sure to visit this "Must see" Rock cycle animation
    - Another Rock cycle site
- The Earth's structure and plate tectonics
  - Tim and Moby on
    - The Earth's structure
    - Plate Tectonics
  - Plate animation
  - Platetectonics
  - In-class research: Worksheets, pp. 48-49
Homework:
- Read Chp. 16: 346-354
- Questions for Thought to answer for next time: 1-5
Links:
- Rock slides

Website maintained by Andy Long. Comments appreciated.