11. Jamila’s class took a field trip to a geology museum. The tour guide was passing around some samples from the rock collection, and Jamila observed that two of the rock samples were different types of rock. How could energy have played a role in the different rock types forming?

Question

Responses

a
Energy changes rock in different ways, depending on the starting rock type. Energy changes igneous rock into liquid rock and changes sedimentary rock into small pieces of rock.
Energy changes rock in different ways, depending on the starting rock type. Energy changes igneous rock into liquid rock and changes sedimentary rock into small pieces of rock.

b
Energy caused one rock type to form, but not the other. Rock that forms because of energy is a different type of rock than rock that forms without energy.
Energy caused one rock type to form, but not the other. Rock that forms because of energy is a different type of rock than rock that forms without energy.

c
Energy from different sources leads to different types of rock. Energy inside Earth melts rock into liquid rock, but energy from the sun causes rock to weather into small pieces of rock.
Energy from different sources leads to different types of rock. Energy inside Earth melts rock into liquid rock, but energy from the sun causes rock to weather into small pieces of rock.

d
Energy changes rock on different continents in different ways. Each continent on Earth has different rock that might form liquid rock or small rock pieces when exposed to energy.

Answer 1

The best response to explain how energy played a role in the different rock types forming is:

c. Energy from different sources leads to different types of rock. Energy inside Earth melts rock into liquid rock, but energy from the sun causes rock to weather into small pieces of rock.

This response accurately describes how internal Earth energy can lead to the formation of igneous rock through melting, while solar energy influences weathering processes that break down rocks into smaller pieces, which can contribute to sedimentary rock formation.