The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate the principle of conservation of mass through the rock cycle. When students create the model, the various parts and processes in the rock cycle are reinforced for them.

TEACHER RESOURCES Teacher Materials Student Activity 1 Student Activity 2 Learning    Goals/Standards COMPUTER MODELS STELLA Versions isee Player software Right-click to download the models PC Format Part 1 PC Format Part 2 Mac Format Part 1 Mac Format Part 2 Vensim Version Vensim PLE Software Right-click to download the model Rock Cycle Model

THE MODEL DIAGRAM

THE EQUATIONS Igneous_Rock(t) = Igneous_Rock(t - dt) + (Crystallization - Sedimentation - IgnMetamorphism - IgnMelting) * dt    INIT Igneous_Rock = .31*Total_Initial_Rock Magma(t) = Magma(t - dt) + (SedMelting + Metamelting + IgnMelting - Crystallization) * dt    INIT Magma = .16*Total_Initial_Rock Metamorphic_Rock(t) = Metamorphic_Rock(t - dt) + (SedMetamorphism + IgnMetamorphism - Metamelting - MetaSedimentation) * dt    INIT Metamorphic_Rock = .22*Total_Initial_Rock Sediment(t) = Sediment(t - dt) + (Sedimentation + MetaSedimentation + SedSedimentation - Lithification) * dt    INIT Sediment = .1*Total_Initial_Rock Sedimentary_Rock(t) = Sedimentary_Rock(t - dt) + (Lithification - SedMetamorphism - SedMelting - SedSedimentation) * dt    INIT Sedimentary_Rock = .21*Total_Initial_Rock Crystallization = Magma*Cooling_Rate Sedimentation = Igneous_Rock*WeathErosionRate IgnMetamorphism = Igneous_Rock*IgnMetaRate IgnMelting = Igneous_Rock*IgnMeltingRate SedMelting = Sedimentary_Rock*SedMeltingRate Metamelting = Metamorphic_Rock*MetaMeltingRate SedMetamorphism = Sedimentary_Rock*SedMetaRate Metamelting = Metamorphic_Rock*MetaMeltingRate MetaSedimentation = Metamorphic_Rock*MetaSedRate SedSedimentation = Sedimentary_Rock*SedSedRate Lithification = Sediment*LithRate Cooling_Rate = 1/3 IgnMeltingRate = 1/17 IgnMetaRate = 1/18 LithRate = 1/2 MetaMeltingRate = 1/10 MetaSedRate = 1/12 SedMeltingRate = 1/12 SedMetaRate = 1/12 SedSedRate = 1/14 Total_Initial_Rock = 5974 {10^24 grams} WeathErosionRate = 1/18

THE OUTPUT

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