Irina Emma and matija's lab

PROJECT
Irina
Emma
Matija
QUESTIONS

1.Does the density of a mineral depend on the size of the mineral sample?

Hypothesis:

It depends on how much air the mineral has inside.   It also depends on the mass divided by volume which equals the density.  To find the density you need to know the mass and volume.

Controlled variables:  How much water is in the graduated cylinder {we will keep this to see the difference between the minerals.} The scale.

Manipulated variables:  The minerals {we will test 3 different kind of minerals so they will have 3 different kind of densities.}

Responding variables:  Density of the minerals

Materials:

1. Balance
2. Graduated cylinder
3. Weighting paper
4. Samples of minerals

Procedure:
1. Choose the 2 minerals, 3 samples each.

• WHITE FELDSPAR
• ORANGE FELDSPAR

2. Find the mass

• 1. orange feldspar 23.6
• 2. orange feldspar 34.3
• 3. orange feldspar 18.6

• 1. white feldspar 32.1
• 2. white feldspar 21
• 3. white feldspar 31.5

3. Find the volume

• 1.orange feldspar 22 ml
• 2.orange feldspar 25 ml
• 3.orange feldspar 14 ml

• 1. white feldspar 28 ml
• 2. white feldspar 12 ml
• 3. white feldspar 20 ml

4. Find the Density
Orange feldspar
1.072
1.3
1.328
White feldspar
1.146
1.75
1.575

5. Make a table with what the density,volume and mass are

Data analysis
In the data above, I saw a pattern in the density. I saw that the density turned out to all be very similar.  They all started with the number 1.


Conclusion
Does the density of a mineral depend on the size of the mineral sample?  From what I saw in our data of the six different pieces of feldspar, the density was not exactly the same but was very similar as you can see in our graph.  Our hypothesis was half accurate because we said how to figure out how to find the density.  We said what we had to do before we found the density but we did not mention what we thought about the guiding question.  I think we should have. If I ever do a lab like this again, I will pay more attention to the hypothesis.  For this lab, I learned a lot about density.  Earlier this year we did a similar lab with clay.  This lab was a good way to show what we had learned from in the previous lab.  In conclusion, I think that the density of a mineral does not depend on the size because all our minerals where different sizes and shapes.  Some were heavier then other samples but in the end the density was very similar almost the same for all our mineral samples.


Further inquiry
If I had to do this lab again, I would have used a third mineral other than feldspar for example fool’s gold.  I also would have added a second hypothesis when we were halfway through the lab because at the beginning I really did not know what we were doing.  In this lab we used more than one trial so we could compare the minerals densities to find out the answer to the guiding question.  I liked this lab very much because I had the same partner as the previous density lab so it made this lab a whole lot simpler. Feldspar is very common it makes up 60% of earths crust. that is a lot.  The average density of  feldspar is 2.4 to  2.7.  Feldspar is racked 6 out of 10 on the hardness scale. and feldspar is made up crystal's and has a plan cleavage.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feldspar

http://www.graniteland.com/infos/professional/feldspar

Reflection on Rocks & Minerals Question

In the last day or two we were given questions to answer about rocks and minerals. One of the main questions was about the rock cycle. First, its magma. Then crystallization happens and it becomes igneous rock. Then the igneous rock weathers down and erodes. It becomes sediment. Cemenation occurs next and it becomes sedimentary rock. After that, pressure and heat create metamorphic rock. The metamorphic rock melts and turns into magma again. Other things might happen along the way. Such as the igneous rock might melt and turn back into magma or the metamorphic rock might erode and turn into sediment rock.

Another question that we had trouble answering is - can rocks be minerals? I said yes, rocks are made up of two or more minerals. But, most kids in our class had different answers so I'm not positive.

We researched interesting facts about some minerals. I found granite interesting because it is so hard. They use it for countertops so when you're cutting in the kitchen it won't break the counter. Granite is not as hard as diamonds. Diamonds are the most hard mineral.

I learned that the three major rocks are sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous. I learned several other things too while researching rocks and minerals. Minerals are created by natural causes. And this is what i learned in through the rock and minerals questions.

Mineral and non- mineral

To day in class we learned what is a mineral and what is a non-mineral this is a way we learned to remind us what is a mineral




Solid
cannot be a liquid or gas

Natural occurring
Found in nature, not man made

Inorganic
Is not alive and never was

Fixed composition
has chemical formula most are forms from  compounds of 2 or more  elements some minerals consist of on elements
Crystal form

a determines structural in which atom are formed

 SNIFC
Then we learned what is a non- mineral. It is the opposite of a mineral. It is a non-mineral if it was once living or living. Here are some examples

                                                                              

 

wood is a non-mineral because it was once living

gold is a mineral because for many reasons for exampled it occurs naturally 

The volcano group project reflection

In the last week or so we pick a volcano to study with a group. My group study Mount Fuji which is located in Japan.   I Think I did well on the Info I gave about Mount Fuji.  If I had to grad our Mount Fuji project I would give my group 4-5 because I think we covered the main question how do volcanoes affect people living around it. I think we had good info and we had a good PowerPoint with a lot of pictures but I think when we where presenting my group acted a bit silly but other than that we did good. I think when we quizzed the class on the info and even ask questions that we did not mention the answer anywhere in the presentation it was fun to see what they had to say. The thing that was missing in our presentation was the volcano. My kit was to old so I could not make it. From this project I learned that volcanoes affect people in different whys. For example in some ways it is good because the ash from the volcano    is good for the soil because of the nutrias I think a another example is for some people it is bad because the volcano may erupt and it the lave and ash moves so fast that you die ether you droned in ash or you burned to death another way is that the volcano you live by might not be active any more so you are safe. This group project was very fun and a great way to learn about different volcanoes .