Weathering and Erosion

Rain washing away soil from a hillside

• Weathering
• Erosion

Water getting into cracks, freezing, and breaking the rocks or pavement apart

• Weathering
• Erosion

Wind blowing sand from one location to another

• Weathering
• Erosion

Wind blasting sand at rock and carving out arches

• Weathering
• Erosion

Flood waters moving soil from one location to another

• Weathering
• Erosion

What is sediment?

• the process of rocks being broken down and carried away
• bits of rock and sand caused by the weathering of rocks
• the top layer of the soil
• decaying plant or animal material 

The process by which small pieces of rocks and soil are carried away to new locations is called...

• weathering
• erosion

How does freezing water cause the weathering of rocks?  The freezing water—

• keeps the rocks in place
• makes the rocks last longer
• expands cracks and breaks rocks
• causes rocks to fall in landslides

The process of breaking up Earth's surface into sediment is called...

• weathering
• erosion

Flood water pounding against a canyon wall and wearing it down

• Weathering
• Erosion