12. A mining company was comparing rock samples from two different mines. Their observations showed that the rock samples were two different types of rock.

Question

How could energy have played a role in the different rock types forming?

Responses

a
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.

b
Energy causes different types of rock to change in different ways. Energy changes igneous rock into liquid rock and changes sedimentary rock into small pieces of rock.
Energy causes different types of rock to change in different ways. Energy changes igneous rock into liquid rock and changes sedimentary rock into small pieces of rock.

c
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.
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.

d
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.

Answer 1

The best response that explains how energy could have played a role in the formation of different rock types is:

a
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 correctly identifies the different energy sources (geothermal energy from within the Earth leading to igneous rock formation, and solar energy leading to weathering and sedimentary rock formation) that result in the formation of distinct types of rock.