Soil Properties
Soil Types
Changes
Weathering vs. Erosion
100
The soil property easily determined by using our sense of vision (looking).
What is soil color?
100
The type of soil is usually light in color, feels rough and gritty has large particles that drains water quickly.
What is sand?
100
The natural forces that can change soil and rocks over time.
What is water and wind?
100
Mr. Rogers noticed a hole that kept getting bigger under the drain spout of his gutter. He wondered what caused it.
What is water and erosion.
200
The property tells us how much water soil can hold.
What is water retention?
200
This soil is reddish in color, retains water well due to its tiny particle size, and is not good for plants as it hardens and crushes the plants' roots when it dries.
What is clay?
200
The process of moving or carrying away rocks and soil.
What is erosion?
200
What river and natural forces caused the Grand Canyon to form?
Colorado River weathered the rock forming the canyon and eroded the material by carrying it away.
300
The property of soil that could be described as rough, smooth, or gritty.
What is texture?
300
The type of soil is a mix of sand, silt, and clay, is dark in color, feels light and fluffy, and is the best for plant growth.
What is loam?
300
The process of breaking or wearing down rocks and soil.
What is weathering?
300
If you threw a large rough rock into the ocean and were able to find it years from now, how would it be different?
It would be smaller and smoother.
400
This is property refers to the amount of soil a water holds.
Capacity to retain water
400
This soil has the largest particles, drains water well, and is very hard.
What is gravel?
400
Complete the statement:
The weathering away of rocks and soils can happen quickly, but usually take......
a long time.
400
The Appalachian Mountains have rounded peaks, while the Rocky Mountains have jagged peaks. Why?
The Appalachians are older and have been exposed to more weathering and erosion from wind and water than the Rockies.
500
This property describes how well plants grow in soil.
Ability to Support Plant Growth
500
This soil is made of broken down rock and a low capacity for retaining water due to it's large particles.
Sand
500
How does is ice able to break apart boulders and rock?
Water expands when it freezes, causing the rock to split apart.
500
In the desert, Billy noticed huge rocks with giant holes in them. When he went to the beach, he found the same thing. How were these two holes formed differently?
The rocks in the desert were caused by sand and wind, while the rocks at the beach was more likely caused by the ocean water.