New
New
Year 3

Physical properties of rocks: permeability

I can compare and group different rocks by testing their permeability.

New
New
Year 3

Physical properties of rocks: permeability

I can compare and group different rocks by testing their permeability.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Geologists test different rocks for permeability. This tells them which rocks allow liquid, e.g. water, to pass through.
  2. Permeable rocks, such as sandstone, let water pass through them.
  3. Impermeable rocks, such as marble, do not let water pass through them.
  4. Rocks can be compared and grouped by their permeability.

Common misconception

Children can become confused with the word permanent and permeable.

Be clear on your definition of permeable, perhaps use some actions to help them remember. Clear up at the start that although permeable sounds rather like permanent it is completely different and explain the difference using examples.

Keywords

  • Permeability - Permeability is the ability of a substance to allow liquids like water to pass through it.

  • rock - Rock is a solid material that occurs naturally in Earth.

  • Permeable - If a substance is permeable, it will allow water to pass through it.

  • impermeable - If a substance is impermeable, it will not allow water to pass through it.

Make sure you have access to a variety of permeable and impermeable rocks for children to test. They need to observe over time to see bubbles coming out of the permeable rocks and rising to the surface, not just initial small bubbles caused by surface air on the rocks.
Teacher tip

Equipment

See additional materials.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Scientists carry out an to find out answers to their questions.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: investigation, test, experiment, enquiry
Q2.
Rocks come from the Earth's crust. We often dig them out of the ground from ...
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a shop
an aquarium
a cafe
a forest
Correct answer: a quarry
Q3.
Which of these describes what a rock is?
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Rock is a human-made material from concrete.
Rock is a natural material that is made in a factory.
Correct answer: Rock is a natural material that is made from different minerals.
Rock is a human-made material that is made from different minerals.
Q4.
Which of these objects could you use to investigate the physical property of hardness of different rocks?
An image in a quiz
a piece of cotton wool
Correct answer: the edge of a coin
Correct answer: a nail
a feather
Correct answer: a steel nail file
Q5.
Which of these questions about physical properties would you need to use water to investigate?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: How waterproof is teddy's coat?
How strong is the magnet?
Correct answer: Which is the best kitchen towel to wipe up the spill?
Which trees are deciduous?
Correct answer: Which nappy absorbs the most liquid?
Q6.
Friedrich was a famous scientist from the past who developed a scratch test to help us to learn more about rocks and their physical property of hardness.
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Correct Answer: Mohs, Friedrich Mohs, mohs

6 Questions

Q1.
A is a type of scientist who investigates and tests different rocks.
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Correct Answer: geologist, rock scientist
Q2.
Jun has four different rocks that he drops water onto to see if it can pass through. What is he testing for?
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the flexibility of the rocks
the strength of the rocks
Correct answer: the permeability of the rocks
the hardness of the rocks
Q3.
Which of these words describes the physical property of a rock that does let liquids such as water passes through?
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opaque
translucent
impermeable
Correct answer: permeable
flexible
Q4.
Which of these words describes the physical property of a rock that does not let liquids such as water passes through?
An image in a quiz
rough
permeable
hard
Correct answer: impermeable
sharp
Q5.
Slate, granite and marble do not let water pass through them. Chalk and sandstone do let water pass through them. Which rocks are permeable?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: chalk
Correct answer: sandstone
slate
granite
marble
Q6.
Which of these rocks would be suitable to mend a leaking roof?
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chalk
limestone
sandstone
Correct answer: slate

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