Name the process used to separate heavier and lighter components of a mixture.

Winnowing is the method used to separate heavier and lighter components of a mixture.

Winnowing is a farming method.  It is used to separate heavier and lighter components of a mixture by wind or by blowing air.

Uses: This process is used by farmers to separate lighter husk particles from heavier seeds of grain. A husk is lighter than the wheat grains, it can be blown away from the grains by a toss in the air.

Principle: A mixture containing two components is separated by a blow of air when it is allowed to fall from a height. The lighter component gets separated from the heavier component due to wind.

Advantage: 

• Winnowing is useful in agriculture.
• We can separate grains and husk, so husk can be used as food for animals.

Disadvantage:

• This process of separating the components of a mixture does not work for heavier particles such as stones. Hence, it has a limited scope.
• Winnowing machines are more efficient than manual winnowing.