Weathering and Erosion

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What is weathering?

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The process of breaking down rocks and minerals into smaller pieces.

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What is erosion?

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The movement of sediment and soil from one location to another by wind, water, or ice.

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What is sediment?

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Bits of broken rock and soil that are carried away by wind, streams, or glaciers.

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What is deposition?

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The process by which water, ice, wind, or gravity deposits rock sediments and soil in a new place.

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What is physical weathering?

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The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition, often caused by water, wind, or temperature changes.

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What is chemical weathering?

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The process that breaks down rocks through chemical reactions, often involving water and substances in the environment.

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What role does gravity play in erosion?

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Gravity pulls rocks and soil down slopes, contributing to erosion.

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What is frost wedging?

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

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What is abrasion?

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The wearing away of rock surfaces by friction and impact from particles carried by wind, water, or ice.

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What is a delta?

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A landform created by the deposition of sediment at the mouth of a river, where it meets a body of water.