Final answer:
Alexis can compare the erosive effects of rainfall and snow or glaciers by spraying water on a slope in one container and placing ice cubes on a slope in another. Observing the changes will illustrate how these water forms affect erosion differently. Additional variables, like wave energy and heat capacity, can extend the model's scope.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alexis wants to build a model to compare how different forms of water cause erosion on a hill. She could set up a model to represent the erosion process caused by rainfall and melting snow or glaciers. For the rainfall simulation, she needs to spray water on the sand slope in one container, while in the other container, she should place ice cubes on the sand slope to represent the slow melting process of snow or glaciers. Alexis will observe the physical changes in the sand due to erosion by these different forms of water. She will likely notice that the water sprayed will cause faster erosion, representing the impact of rainfall. The gradual melting of ice will show the slower, but persistent, erosive action similar to that of glaciers.
By analyzing the differences between the two containers, Alexis will be able to understand and compare the erosive effects. Moreover, she may extend the model to include variables such as wave energy by constructing a wave tank and simulating ocean waves, or study heat capacity by comparing temperature changes in sand versus water, which can relate to sedimentary rock formation.