Weathering & Erosion SOL Practice

The natural chemical or physical processes that breaks down rock on Earth's surface.

• weathering
• erosion
• deposition
• jackhammering

The process by which water, ice, wind or gravity moves weathered rock and soil from one place to another.

• weathering
• erosion
• deposition
• dumptruck

These rocks were made smooth by wind blowing smaller rock particles across their surface.  This is an example of:

• ice wedging
• chemical weathering
• acid rain
• abrasion

These gravestones have slowly broken down and turned a blackish color due to the action of:

• ice wedging
• abrasion
• acid rain
• mechanical weathering

Weeds growing into the cracks in a sidewalk and the sidewalk begins to crumble is an example of:

• mechanical weathering
• chemical weathering

A metal statue slowly turning green after years of being outside is an example of:

• mechanical weathering
• chemical weathering

The formation of stalactites and stalagmites in a cave as water mixed with carbon dioxide creates carbonic acid, which dissolves away the limestone, is an example of:

• mechanical weathering
• chemical weathering

A cliff formed near the ocean.  Which statement best describes how this cliff formed?

• Warm air melted the rock.
• Sun rays evaporated the rock.
• Ocean waves washed away rock.
• Plant roots pushed away the rock.

Sarah does the investigation described below using a model to study how rivers erode earth materials.
·  She pours 600 mL of sand onto a plate.
·  She pours 150 mL of water onto the pile of sand.
·  She measures how much of the sand washes off the edge of the plate.
·  She notices that less sand washes off the plate when she pours water slowly than when she pours it faster.
How is the model similar to real rivers eroding earth materials?

• The model shows that faster-moving water makes sand stick to the bottom of a river.
• The model shows that slower-moving water makes sand float to the top of a river.
• The model shows that slower-moving water erodes less earth materials than faster-moving water.
• The model shows that faster-moving water erodes less earth materials than slower-moving water.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) combines with water as raindrops fall through the atmosphere. This makes a weak acid, called carbonic acid. Carbonic acid is a very common in nature, where it works to dissolve rock. Pollutants, such as sulfur and nitrogen from fossil fuel burning, create sulfuric and nitric acid. Sulfuric and nitric acids are the two main components of acid rain, which speeds up chemical weathering.
This statue was probably destroyed by _____.

• Wind
• Humans
• Acid Rain
• Animals