Weathering | Erosion | Deposition

Front

What is weathering?

Back

The process of breaking down rocks and minerals into smaller pieces by physical, chemical, or biological means.

Front

What is erosion?

Back

The movement of weathered material (sediment) from one place to another by wind, water, gravity, or ice.

Front

What is deposition?

Back

The process of dropping sediment in a new location after it has been transported by erosion.

Front

What is mechanical weathering?

Back

The physical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition.

Front

What is chemical weathering?

Back

The process that breaks down rocks through chemical reactions, often involving water and substances like acids.

Front

What is frost wedging?

Back

A type of mechanical weathering where water seeps into cracks in rocks, freezes, and expands, causing the rock to break apart.

Front

What role do glaciers play in erosion and deposition?

Back

Glaciers can erode land by scraping and carrying away rocks, and they deposit these rocks in new locations as they melt.

Front

What is acid rain?

Back

Rain that has been made acidic by pollutants in the atmosphere, which can lead to chemical weathering of rocks like limestone.

Front

What is the difference between weathering and erosion?

Back

Weathering is the breakdown of rocks, while erosion is the movement of those broken pieces to a new location.

Front

What is oxidation in the context of weathering?

Back

A chemical weathering process where oxygen reacts with minerals, often leading to rusting in iron-containing rocks.