Weathering encompasses all the processes that cause rocks to fragment, crack, crumble, or decay. In this activity, procedures A and B challenge the students to determine the effects of wind, sandblasting, and water on regolith formation and deposition on Earth. This is followed by prodedure C in which the students simulate regolith formation on the Moon by meteoritic bombardment. Preparation Review and prepare materials listed on the student sheet. Toast, crackers, or brittle cookies can be used in this activity.
Toast is the least expensive but most time consuming choice.
Invariably, students get hungry at the sight of food, so you may want to reserve some clean materials for consumption or use something other than a rock for the projectile. Toast one loaf of white bread and one loaf of golden wheat or rye bread. Note that whole wheat bread does not get brittle enough. The more sand, the better the illusion to a real rock. For procedure C, do not use glass pans.