Student SheetName______per___date_____

Title: My Sandbox

Introduction: Everyday, wind and water pick-up, carry, and deposit sediments on Earth’s surface. The sediments form layers based on two important properties; particle size and density. In this experiment, you will measure both properties and see how they affect the layers of sediment that form in a jar of water. Which property is more important? Will the densest or the largest-sized particles end up on the bottom of a jar of sediments shaken in water?

Hypothesis:

Materials: sand, beaker, hand lens, 4-5 square pieces of aluminum foil, bucket or plastic shoe box, 1-2 different sized sifters, triple beam balance, 100 mL graduated cylinder, 4-5 baby food jars, timer, wet erase marker, 1 large jar or plastic bottle with lid

Procedures:

I. Separating the sediments by size

  1. Measure 100 mL of the mixed sediments into a beaker.
  2. Make massing boats using the aluminum foil by folding up the sides. Find the mass of each boat now and record on the data table. You will use this to hold the different samples of sand while finding the mass.
  3. Sift the sediments on to the aluminum boats using two sifters. Use the one with the smallest holes first, then whatever doesn’t go through should be placed in the larger sifter. The particles that cannot go through either sifter are sample #3
  4. Draw a picture of one piece of the sediment in the data table. Draw it the same size as your sample. Your teacher will help you name the sediment.

II. Find the density of the samples

  1. Mass the sand and subtract the mass of the “boat”. Record the data.
  2. Pour no more than 40 mL of sediment 1 into a graduated cylinder. Write down the volume. Add 40 ml of water and write down the new volume. Subtract the first volume from the second and you will know the volume of the air in the sediment. Subtract the amount of air from the original volume of the sediment.
  3. Find the density of the sample by dividing the mass by the volume.

III. Which sediment will sink to the bottom if you mix them all together?

8. Add 100 ml of the original mixture in a jar and add water so that the jar is full.

9. Put the lid on tight and shake!!!! Draw your results.

Data:

DATA Table: Mass of Samples

Sample / Drawing of Approximate Particle Size / Mass of boat
(g) / Mass of boat and sample (g) / Mass of Sample (g)
1-smallest
sediment name:
2
sediment name:
3
largest
sediment
name:

DATA CHART Density of Samples

Sample / A
Volume of dry sand (mL) / B
Volume after adding 40 mL water / C
Possible new volume
(A + B) / D
Volume of Air in Sand
(C – B) / E
Volume of sand alone
(A – D) / Density of Sample (g/mL)
1
2
3

Setting Rate:

Draw the jar after settling:

Analysis Questions:

  1. How many types of sediments were in your sample of sand? Do you think there could be more? Explain.
  1. Which sample was the most dense? Least?
  1. Which sample was largest? Was it also the most dense? Explain why you think this is.
  1. Which of the samples took the longest to settle in the jar? Why do you think this is?
  1. Describe how the samples settled when mixed in the large jar. Why do you think the samples sorted this way?
  1. Compare how your samples settled to the samples of another group. How were they similar? How were they different?
  1. If the samples were all the same size, how do you think they would sort? Explain.
  1. If the samples were all the same density how do you think they would sort? Explain.

Conclusion: Describe in your conclusion how you think particles of sediments sort based on what you learned and observed in the lab.