Process 1
What happens when rocks break down into smaller pieces?
Weathering
What is it called when soil or sand is moved from one place to another?
Erosion
What happens when dirt or sand is dropped off in a new place?
Deposition
What can carry away bits of rock or soil?
Water, wind, or ice
How does water cause rocks to break down?
By soaking into them and freezing or carrying away minerals.
How does water change the shape of a riverbank?
It washes away parts of the bank as it flows
What is formed when a river drops off soil and rocks at its end?
A delta
Which agent of erosion can form sand dunes?
Wind
What type of weathering involves air and water changing rock chemically?
Chemical weathering
What is the effect of wind carrying sand against rock surfaces?
It smooths and shapes the rocks, a process called abrasion.
Where do glaciers leave the rock and soil they carry when they melt?
At the glacier's end, called a moraine.
What causes potholes to form in road surfaces?
Ice from frozen water expanding and contracting.
What are living things that can cause weathering of rock?
Plants growing in cracks and animals burrowing.
How do tree roots cause erosion?
They break up the soil making it easier to wash away.
What happens to mountains over millions of years because of deposition?
They can wear down to smaller hills.
What type of erosion creates valleys and gorges?
Water flowing through them.
How does temperature change contribute to rock breaking down?
Repeated heating and cooling expands and contracts the rock, breaking it up.
What long-term impact does erosion have on a coastline?
It can create cliffs, caves, and arches.
What is a landform created by wind deposition of sand?
A sandbar or dune.
How does ice shape the land it moves over?
By scraping and grinding the surface beneath it, called glacial till.