Before you begin the scientific investigation below, make sure to download the Graded Bedding Scientific Investigation Report. As you complete this scientific investigation, fill in any needed information on the report template. If you need more information about each section of the report, please visit the Developmental Module.
This scientific investigation is available below or in a printable version.
Introduction
Most sedimentary rocks are millions of years old. As a result, no humans were around to document the processes that lead to the formation of these beds of rock. How can geologists distinguish sedimentary rocks that were deposited by wind in a desert from rocks deposited by a body of water? The answer is found in special depositional features like cross-bedding and graded bedding.
Objectives
In this scientific investigation, you will:
Hypothesis
Using the Procedure and Data Collection section below, read through the procedural information for this scientific investigation. Based on your understanding of the procedure, develop your own hypotheses which describe what you think you will see when you drop a sediment sample containing several different sized items into water. Hypothesize about which items you think would fall faster or slower. Record these hypotheses in the Hypothesis section of your Graded Bedding Scientific Investigation Report.
Equipment and Materials
Procedure and Data Collection
Data
Use the spaces provided in the Data section of your Graded Bedding Scientific Investigation Report to record your data from this scientific investigation.
Data Analysis
In the Data Analysis section of your Graded Bedding Scientific Investigation Report, provide responses to the following questions:
Conclusion
Using the Conclusion section of your Graded Bedding Investigation Report, compose three to four sentences describing an overall conclusion based on your data. Were your hypotheses true or false, and how do you know? Use the data and notes that you collected from your investigation to form your conclusion. Make sure that you include information that you gained from data analysis to support your conclusion.
Experimental Sources of Error
On your Graded Bedding Scientific Investigation Report, provide responses to the following questions: Are there any sources of error? If so, what are they, and what could be done to minimize error?
Once you have completed your Graded Bedding Scientific Investigation Report, please submit your work to the dropbox.