What do the black and green arrows in the diagram represent?

Question

A

The movement of rocks within Earth’s crust

B

The processes that transform one rock into another

C

The relative amount of each type of rock on Earth

D

The time it takes for each type of rock to form

2

Fill in the table to describe how Material A transforms into Material B in the rock cycle.

Choose answers from the answer bank to place in the table. Use the arrow keys to select an answer and press space when you're ready to drag it to a new location. Then use the arrow keys to move the answer to a response area and press space to drop it.

Material A

Required forces/processes

Material B

Sedimentary rock

Metamorphic rock

Magma

Igneous rock

Igneous

Sedimentary rock

Cooling and recrystallization

Melting

Temperature and pressure

Weathering, erosion, deposition

3

Some people model the rock cycle using crayons. Match each step to its description.

Match answers from the answer bank with the items in the list. Use the arrow keys to select an answer and press space when you're ready to drag it to a new location. Then use the arrow keys to move the answer to a response area and press space to drop it.

Break a crayon into small pieces

Move pieces of crayon from one location to another

Press pieces of crayon into one solid layer

Melt crayons together and then let them cool

Erosion

Form sedimentary rock

Form igneous rock

Weathering

4

Imagine that the Earth’s core and mantle cool until they are the same temperature as the crust. How would this affect the rock cycle? Briefly justify your answer.

Observation

1

Answer 1

1. The black and green arrows in the diagram represent:

A - The movement of rocks within Earth’s crust.

2. Fill in the table to describe how Material A transforms into Material B in the rock cycle.

| Material A | Required forces/processes | Material B | |-----------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------| | Magma | Cooling and recrystallization | Igneous rock | | Igneous rock | Weathering, erosion, deposition | Sedimentary rock | | Sedimentary rock | Temperature and pressure | Metamorphic rock | | Metamorphic rock | Melting | Magma |

3. Match each step to its description:

• Break a crayon into small pieces: Weathering
• Move pieces of crayon from one location to another: Erosion
• Press pieces of crayon into one solid layer: Form sedimentary rock
• Melt crayons together and then let them cool: Form igneous rock

4. If the Earth’s core and mantle cool until they are the same temperature as the crust, this would significantly slow down or halt the rock cycle. The processes that drive the movement of tectonic plates, which include convection currents in the mantle, would diminish. As a result, most geological activity such as volcanism and metamorphism, which rely on high temperatures and pressures, would reduce or cease altogether. This could lead to less rock formation and transformation, essentially stagnating the rock cycle and making the surface geology more stable over time.