Matter is Conserved
Matter is conserved through all geological changes—melting, weathering, and cooling—because the total amount of matter remains constant according to the Law of Conservation of Matter. In Amplify Science (California) Grade 7, Chapter 2: Sediment and Magma, students learn that rock material is never created or destroyed; it only changes form and location.
Key Concepts
Through all geological changes—melting, weathering, or cooling—the total amount of matter remains constant. This is the Law of Conservation of Matter .
A granite mountain may break down into millions of sand grains, but the total mass of the sand equals the mass of the mountain. Rock material is never destroyed or created; it only changes its physical form and location.
Common Questions
What is the Law of Conservation of Matter in geology?
The Law of Conservation of Matter states that matter cannot be created or destroyed. In geology, when a granite mountain weathers into sand, the total mass of the sand equals the mass of the original mountain.
How is matter conserved in the rock cycle?
Through weathering, melting, and cooling, rock material changes form and location but the total mass stays constant. A mountain broken into grains of sand still has the same total mass.
Why does the total mass stay the same in a geological change?
Atoms are never created or destroyed during physical or chemical changes. They only rearrange or move, so the total amount of matter in a closed system remains the same.
Where is matter conservation taught in Amplify Science Grade 7?
Matter conservation in geological contexts is covered in Amplify Science (California) Grade 7, Chapter 2: Sediment and Magma.