Rock layers in a jar: sediment experiment

Materials and shake test in 10 minutes

You need a clear jar with lid, sand, gravel, soil, water, a spoon and paper labels to build rock layers in a jar at home.

Fill the jar half with water, add spoonfuls of sand gravel and soil, screw the lid, shake hard for twenty seconds, then set it down and watch layers settle by size.

Superposition and Grand Canyon link

Heaviest gravel sinks first, sand lands next, fine mud stays on top, oldest layer ends at the bottom, this rule is called superposition and matches Grand Canyon walls.

Real canyons show the same order with old fossils deep down and young shells near the top, draw your jar layers, label oldest and youngest and compare after one hour.

• Gravel settles first, mud last.
• Oldest layer stays at bottom.
• Do not open a shaken jar fast.
• Label layers after one hour.
• Canyons show the same order.