Earth's Spheres
What is the hydrosphere?
This sphere includes all of the water found on Earth.
What is weathering?
The breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces is called this.
What is erosion?
The movement of weathered rock and sediment from one location to another is called this.
A river slows down as it reaches a lake. What will most likely happen to the sediment the river was carrying?
IT WILL SETTLE/DROP
What is a hill?
This landform is a naturally raised area of Earth's surface that is usually lower and less steep than a mountain.
What is the geosphere?
This sphere is made up of all the solid land, rocks, and minerals on Earth.
What is mechanical/physical weathering?
This type of weathering occurs when rocks are physically broken into smaller pieces by an external physical force
Which agent of erosion is responsible for carrying sand across a desert and creating sand dunes?
WIND
You find a pile of sand at the bottom of a hill after a rainstorm. Which process helped create the pile?
DEPOSITION
What is a mountain?
This landform is a large, elevated area with steep sides and a peak or summit.
What is the biosphere?
This sphere includes all living things, including plants, animals, and humans.
What is an example mechanical weathering?
Plant roots growing into cracks in rocks can cause this type of weathering.
A farmer notices that rainwater is washing soil from the top of a hill into a nearby stream. What is being moved?
SEDIMENT/SOIL
A strong wind is carrying sand. When the wind becomes weaker, what will most likely happen?
THE SAND WILL SETTLE
What is a valley?
This flat area of land located between mountains or hills is called this.
What is the atmosphere?
This sphere is the layer of gases surrounding Earth.
What is chemical weathering?
When minerals in a rock change because of a chemical reaction with water or other substances, this is called this type of weathering.
Which would cause more erosion on a steep hillside: heavy rainfall or a light drizzle?
HEAVY RAINFALL
A river carries sediment toward the ocean. Over time, the sediment builds up into a new piece of land at the river's mouth. What LANDFORM can form?
DELTA
What is a plateau?
This landform is a large area of flat or gently rolling land that is generally higher than the surrounding area.
What is an example of the biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere?
A tree growing in soil and using water from a nearby river is an example of interactions between these three spheres.
What is an example of chemical weathering?
A rock becomes weaker after reacting with acidic rainwater. This is an example of this type of weathering.
A river has a fast current. Compared with a slow-moving river, which river will generally be able to carry more sediment?
What is an example of deposition containing a glacier?
A glacier melts and leaves behind rocks, sand, and other sediment. This is an example of this process.
What is a delta?
This landform can form where a river deposits sediment as it enters a larger body of water.