Weathering and Erosion

Front

What is weathering?

Back

Weathering is the process of breaking down Earth’s crust into smaller and smaller pieces.

Front

What is erosion?

Back

Erosion is the process that picks up and moves weathered rocks.

Front

What is deposition?

Back

Deposition is the process by which sediments, soil, and rocks are added to a landform or land mass.

Front

How does wind contribute to weathering?

Back

Wind can blast sand at rocks, causing them to break down and carve out caves.

Front

What is a delta?

Back

A delta is a landform that forms at the mouth of a river, where it meets a body of water, and is created by the deposition of sediment.

Front

What are the main types of weathering?

Back

The main types of weathering are mechanical (physical) weathering and chemical weathering.

Front

What is mechanical weathering?

Back

Mechanical weathering is the physical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition.

Front

What is chemical weathering?

Back

Chemical weathering involves the chemical alteration of minerals in rocks, leading to their breakdown.

Front

Give an example of mechanical weathering.

Back

An example of mechanical weathering is freeze-thaw action, where water seeps into cracks, freezes, and expands, breaking the rock apart.

Front

What role do plants play in weathering?

Back

Plants can contribute to weathering through root growth, which can break apart rocks.