Tina and Grayson collect a shovel full of soil from the school garden and bring it back to the science lab. They put the soil in a glass container with some water and stir the mixture. They let the mixture settle overnight. What will the soil mixture most likely look like the next day?
The soil mixture will most likely have a layer of soil at the bottom of the container and a layer of water on top. The water will be cloudy due to the soil particles that have been suspended in it.
To determine what the soil mixture will most likely look like the next day, we need to understand the process of sedimentation. Sedimentation is the process by which the different components of a mixture settle down based on their density.
When Tina and Grayson put the soil and water mixture in a glass container and stir it, they create a suspension. The soil particles become suspended in the water, making the mixture appear cloudy. However, given enough time, sedimentation will occur.
After letting the mixture settle overnight, the heavier components in the soil, such as sand and larger particles, will settle at the bottom of the container first. The finer particles, such as silt and clay, will settle on top of the sand layer. If the water is clear enough, it is possible to observe distinct layers of sand, silt, and clay.
So, the next day, the soil mixture will most likely appear stratified, with clearly visible layers of sand, silt, and clay. The water on top may still be cloudy due to very fine particles that have not settled completely.
To confirm the appearance of the soil mixture the next day, Tina and Grayson can carefully observe the glass container and note the different layers of sediment that have formed.