Effect of Plants on Soil Erosion Investigation

Hannah plans to investigate the effect of plants on soil erosion. She horizontally tilts three similar bottles on a table and opens the bottles. Each bottle has a container hanging from its mouth to collect the water as shown in the diagram. Hannah performs the listed steps for her investigation. 1. Place equal quantities of soil in each bottle. 2. Plant the same numbers of small plants in each bottle. 3. Pour equal amounts of water in each bottle. 4. Measure the amounts of soil and water collected in each container. What correction is required in Hannah’s investigation?

• She should vary the sizes of the three bottles.

• She should place different quantities of soil in each bottle.

• She should add different amounts of water in each bottle.

• She should plant different numbers of plants in each bottle.

A researcher performs an activity to study if erosion on a hillside is affected by the type of soil that exists. The researcher makes a model of a slope of a hill and then allows water to drip on it. What is the best design to carry out the activity as a fair test?

• Change the slope of the hill in each trial.

• Change the type of soil on the hill, and conduct multiple trials with each soil type.

• Change the amount of soil on the hill and the slope of the hill in each trial

• Change the amount of water that drips on the slope, and conduct multiple trials

What process most likely caused the cracks in the rocks?

• deposition

• landslide

• tides

• weathering

A student is studying some shells on a beach. What process would most likely have caused the arrival of shells on the beach?

• weathering of rocks in the riverbank

• earthquakes under the ocean

• volcanic activity in the ocean

• deposition by ocean waves

The diagram shows circular pits formed on the surface of a rock. (Magnification 20x) Which natural process results in formation of such pits?

• earthquake

• flood

• landslide

• weathering

A student thinks that moving water erodes all kinds of soil equally. She selects two identical trays and arranges them near two sinks, as shown. In the first tray, the student places a pile of sand, and in the second tray, she places a same-size pile of clay. From the same height, the student pours 50 mL of water on the sand pile in tray 1 and 100 mL of water on the clay pile in tray 2. She then measures the amounts of soil collected in the sinks and finds that both sinks have equal amounts of soil. The student’s friend suggests that she cannot rely on her experimental results.

• Use sand to make both soil piles.

• Use clay to make both soil piles.

• Pour more water on the soil pile in tray 1 than in tray 2.

• Pour equal amounts of water on both soil piles.

What is a major difference between erosion and weathering?

• Erosion is chemical, and weathering is mechanical.

• Erosion is mechanical, and weathering is chemical.

• Erosion is the movement of sediment, and weathering is the creation of sediment.

• Erosion is the creation of sediment, and weathering is the movement of sediment.

A student plans two experiments to understand natural processes on Earth. The experimental setups are shown in the diagram. If the student tilts the tray toward the cardboard in experiment A and switches on the fan in experiment B, what would each setup show?

• Experiment A shows deposition, and experiment B shows erosion.

• Experiment A shows weathering, and experiment B shows deposition.

• Experiment A shows an earthquake, and experiment B shows deposition.

• Experiment A shows a volcanic eruption, and experiment B shows erosion.

A teacher asks four of her students to write a fact about sand dunes. Their answers are listed in the table below. | Student | Fact about Sand Dunes | |-----------|--------------------------------------| | Maria | It is formed due to wind. | | Katherine | It is caused by a slow process. | | Maggie | It is formed due to deposition. | | Susan | It is caused by a fast process. |

• Katherine

• Maggie

• Maria

• Susan

Which pair is most often the cause of erosion?

• lava and earthquakes

• wind and water

• heat and ice

• sand and humus