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7C2 SLGRocks PDF
7C2 SLGRocks PDF
SOLID
Adapted from Exploring Science for QCA Copymaster File 7 © Pearson Education Limited 2002
LIQUID
GAS
Diffusion
The natural mixing of substances is called diffusion. Diffusion occurs because particles in a
substance are always moving around. Diffusion is fastest in gases, and slower in liquids. Diffusion
in solids is extremely slow.
Pressure in gases
Pressure is caused by particles hitting the walls of the container they are in. If the pressure becomes
too great for a fixed container to hold, it will burst.
The idea of particles is a theory that scientists use to explain observations. Scientists use theories
to make predictions, and test the predictions to find out if they are correct. If the predictions are not
correct, then the theory may have to be changed to help to explain the new evidence.
Adapted from Exploring Science for QCA Copymaster File 7 © Pearson Education Limited 2002
Rocks and weathering
Rock textures
Rocks are made of grains. Each grain is made of a chemical called a mineral. The texture of a rock
depends on the size and shape of the grains.
Weathering
Rocks can be worn away by water or by changes in
temperature.
Physical weathering can happen in different ways. The minerals in a rock expand if it gets hot, and
contract if it cools. These changes in size can produce strong forces. If the rock is heated and cooled
over and over again the forces can make cracks in the rock.
Biological weathering is when rocks are broken up or worn away by plants and animals. For
example, plant roots can grow into cracks in rocks and make the cracks bigger.
Adapted from Exploring Science for QCA Copymaster File 7 © Pearson Education Limited 2002
Weathered pieces of rock fall to the bottom of cliffs. This
movement of bits of rock is called erosion. The bits of
rock can be transported away by streams and rivers.
Pieces of rock bump into each other while they are being
transported, and bits get knocked off them. This is called
abrasion. The bits of rock carried by a river are called
sediment.
Fast moving water can move larger pieces of rock than slow moving water. Rivers slow down when
they flow into a lake or the sea. The slow moving water cannot carry all of the sediment, so some of
it is deposited on the bottom. Sediments often form layers. Layers of sediment can also form when
sea water evaporates and leaves salts behind.
Sometimes dead plants or animals fall to the bottom of the sea. If their remains get covered by other
sediments they may form fossils. When a dead organism forms a fossil, its form can still be seen
because either it has not rotted away or its hard parts have been turned into stone. Fossils can help
geologists find out how rocks were formed.
If a lot of plant material is buried at once, it may turn into coal. When tiny sea plants and animals
get buried they sometimes turn into oil or natural gas. These are all fossil fuels.
Adapted from Exploring Science for QCA Copymaster File 7 © Pearson Education Limited 2002