How Do You Simulate The Weathering Of Rocks?
When you are teaching about weathering processes, you can simulate the weathering of rocks in your own classroom with a simple device: a rock tumbler. You will need several weeks to get the best results, but this is greatly reduced from the millennia required to weather rocks in nature. If you want to stop the machine after the first week and show the effects of weathering, the rocks will not be completely smooth, but they will be smoothed around the edges. It is best if you have a storage closet to keep the rock tumbler in for several weeks so that your students will not have to talk over the noise from the machine. Step 1 Remove the barrel from the rock tumbler and fill it with rocks until it is between one-half and two-thirds full. Step 2 Pour water over the rocks so that it is visible but does not completely cover the rocks. Tell your students that this process will simulate weathering from water, as occurs in streams and the ocean. Step 3 Add the silicon carbide grit 60/90 for a r
