Weathering and Erosion
What happens when something weathers over time?
It slowly breaks down into smaller pieces.
What is the process called when Earth’s surface is broken down into smaller pieces?
Weathering
What is the process called when pieces of Earth’s materials are moved to another location?
Erosion
Which of these does not cause erosion?
liquid water, ice, sunlight, wind
sunlight
True or false: sedimentary rock is formed by deposition.
True
What does erosion mean?
Erosion is when weathered pieces of rock, soil, or sediment are moved by water, wind, ice, or gravity.
Can you think of a type of weather that can change Earth’s surface?
Rain, wind, snow, and ice can all change Earth's surface.
What might happen if water freezes in a container?
Water expands when it freezes, so it can push against the container and possibly crack or break it.
Does weathering affect different materials differently?
Yes. Some materials are harder and resist weathering, while softer materials break down more easily.
What caused the pipe in the team’s demonstration to crack?
Water froze inside the pipe and expanded, causing the pipe to crack.
What happens when wind sweeps up sand and throws it against a big rock?
The sand scratches and wears away the rock over time. This is a type of weathering caused by wind.
How does a crack in the sidewalk form?
Water can get into tiny cracks. When the water freezes, it expands and pushes the concrete apart, making the crack bigger.
Why does deposition occur after erosion?
Erosion moves sediment, and deposition happens when the sediment is dropped in a new place. So after sediment is carried away, it eventually has to settle somewhere.
Which of these might be carried by the wind, which causes the weathering of rocks?
fog mud pollen sand
sand
Which two weathering agents form mudslides?
Water and Gravity
Explain how sunlight can cause a crack in the street.
Sunlight heats the street, causing it to expand. When the street cools, it contracts. Repeated heating and cooling can cause cracks to form over time.
What happens to water when it freezes?
It expands
How can plant roots cause weathering?
Roots can grow into cracks in rocks and push them apart.
How did mushroom rocks form?
Wind carrying sand slowly wore away the softer rock near the bottom, while the harder rock above stayed more intact. This created a rock shaped like a mushroom.
How can freezing water cause weathering?
Water gets into cracks in rocks, freezes and expands, and makes the cracks bigger.
List three things that may cause the weathering of rocks.
Water
Wind
Ice/freezing and thawing
Which usually causes more erosion: a gentle stream or a fast-moving river?
a fast-moving river
What are the four main ways weathering can happen?
Water
Wind
Ice/freezing and thawing
Living things (like plant roots)
What is the difference between weathering and erosion?
Weathering breaks materials down; erosion moves them.
What is deposition?
When sediment is dropped or settles in a new place.