Understanding Erosion and Rocks

Erosion is a process that slowly changes rocks. Which of the following most likely causes pebbles in a stream to erode?

• flowing water

• force of gravity

• movement of ice

• freezing and thawing

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Basalt forms when lava cools on Earth’s surface. Granite forms when magma cools within Earth. Which of these claims correctly classifies both basalt and granite?

• Basalt and granite are both igneous rocks.

• Basalt and granite are both metamorphic rocks.

• Basalt is igneous rock, and granite is metamorphic rock.

• Basalt is metamorphic rock, and granite is igneous rock.

Earth can be divided into layers based on chemical composition. The three compositional layers of Earth are the core, the mantle, and the crust. Which of these answers best describes the core?

• the innermost part of Earth below the mantle

• the solid outer layer of Earth above the mantle

• the hot, slow-flowing layer of material beneath the crust

• the layer of Earth where tectonic plates are located

Which of the following processes is primarily responsible for the formation of sedimentary rocks?

• cooling and solidification of magma

• compaction and cementation of sediments

• heat and pressure causing metamorphism

• melting of existing rocks

What is the main component of the Earth's crust?

• iron

• silicon

• oxygen

• aluminum

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

Which type of rock is formed by the alteration of existing rock through heat and pressure?

• igneous rock

• sedimentary rock

• metamorphic rock

• volcanic rock

Which of the following is a renewable resource?

• coal

• natural gas

• solar energy

• oil

What is the primary cause of earthquakes?

• volcanic eruptions

• movement of tectonic plates

• erosion by water

• changes in atmospheric pressure

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

Which layer of the Earth is composed mostly of liquid iron and nickel?

• crust

• mantle

• outer core

• inner core

Which of the following best describes the process of weathering?

• the movement of sediment from one place to another

• the breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces

• the formation of new rocks from magma

• the deposition of sediment in a new location