Weathering and Erosion

Front

What is weathering?

Back

The process of breaking down rocks and minerals into smaller pieces by physical, chemical, or biological means.

Front

What is erosion?

Back

The process by which soil and rock are removed from one location and transported to another, often by wind, water, or ice.

Front

How does freezing water contribute to weathering?

Back

Freezing water expands in cracks of rocks, causing them to break apart, a process known as ice wedging.

Front

What is ice wedging?

Back

A type of physical weathering where water seeps into cracks, freezes, expands, and eventually breaks the rock apart.

Front

What role does water play in erosion?

Back

Water can carry sediments and rocks away from their original location, shaping landscapes and forming features like canyons.

Front

What is a glacier?

Back

A large mass of ice that moves slowly over land, shaping the landscape through erosion and deposition.

Front

What are the two main processes that change Earth's surface features?

Back

Wearing away (erosion) and building up (deposition).

Front

What is the difference between weathering and erosion?

Back

Weathering is the breakdown of rocks, while erosion is the movement of those broken materials from one place to another.

Front

What is mechanical weathering?

Back

The physical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition.

Front

What is chemical weathering?

Back

The process that breaks down rocks through chemical reactions, altering the minerals within the rock.