Home | Session 4 | Product of Weathering Pg 1, 2, 3, 4

The Products of Weathering and Erosion

Presented by Lisa White
San Francisco State University

4. For your final activity, take some samples of the mystery material and wet it.

Questions to answer:

1. What are the characteristics of this material when wet?
   
   
   
2. Squeeze the material firmly in your hand to "dewater." Open your hand and watch the behavior of the material.
   
   
   
3. What do you think the material is and why does it behave this way?

   Answer: The mystery sample is corn starch! It has an interesting property—when you squeeze it the water expels and the texture of the material is dry and stiff. As soon the squeezing stops, the water that is still within the sample causes the materials to flow and the sample retains its moisture.

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updated March 6, 2002

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