Constructive Forces
What landform is created by lava cooling and hardening?
A volcano or volcanic island
What is the term for the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces?
Weathering
Name a natural disaster that can cause both constructive and destructive changes.
Volcano
A student notices that part of the beach is gone after a storm. What process likely caused this?
Erosion
Is weathering a slow or fast change
Slow
Name a process that builds up Earth's surface by dropping off sediment.
Deposition
What is the movement of broken-down materials from one place to another called?
Erosion
What natural disaster shakes the ground and can destroy buildings and landforms?
Earthquake
A mountain appears taller after many small earthquakes. What type of force caused this?
Constructive - tectonic uplift
Name a natural event that causes fast land changes.
Earthquake, landslide, or volcanic eruption
Explain how a delta is formed and why it’s considered a constructive process ?
When a river drops sediment at its mouth, creating new land
Explain how earthquakes can destroy landforms.
By shaking and cracking the Earth's surface, causing buildings and land to collapse
Compare the impact of a volcano to that of a hurricane on the land.
Both can change land, but volcanoes add land and hurricanes mostly erode it
A town built near a river mouth sees new land forming each year. What is happening and why?
Deposition from the river is creating a delta
Compare and contrast a volcano and a canyon in how fast they form
Volcanoes form quickly with eruptions; canyons form slowly by erosion.
Compare the formation of a delta and a sand dune. How are they similar and different?
Both are formed by deposition, but deltas form in water at river mouths, while sand dunes form from wind-blown sand in dry area
Evaluate how a hurricane can lead to both erosion and flooding
Strong winds and rain erode coastlines and overflow rivers, causing both processes to happen together
Explain how a flood can be both helpful and harmful to land.
Floods can destroy land but also bring nutrient-rich soil
Create a plan for how a city can prevent beach erosion during storms.
Build sea walls, plant dune grass, use sandbags to block wave energy
Justify whether a flood should be considered both constructive and destructive.
Destructive—washes away soil; Constructive—can deposit rich new soil.
Design a solution that humans could use to support constructive processes like beach restoration.
Building barriers to trap sand or planting vegetation
Propose a way humans can reduce the damage caused by erosion on farmland.
Planting cover crops or building terraces
Develop a plan that communities can use to prepare for a destructive natural disaster.
Building levees, having emergency kits, or evacuation plans
Explain how deforestation affects erosion.
Cutting trees removes roots that hold soil in place, increasing erosion
A scientist is studying two locations: one where a canyon formed over millions of years and another where a volcanic island appeared within weeks. Analyze both events and explain which type of force—constructive or destructive—was responsible for each, and whether they occurred slowly or quickly. What does this tell us about Earth's surface changes over time?
The canyon was formed by a destructive force (erosion by a river) over a long, slow period. The volcanic island was formed by a constructive force (lava building new land) in a short, fast time. This shows that Earth's surface can change both slowly and quickly depending on the process, and both types of forces constantly shape the planet.