Weathering and Erosion

Front

What is weathering?

Back

The breaking down of Earth’s crust into smaller and smaller pieces.

Front

What is erosion?

Back

The process by which water, ice, wind, or gravity moves fragments of rock and soil.

Front

What is deposition?

Back

When wind, water, or ice leave materials in a location.

Front

What is chemical weathering?

Back

The process that involves the chemical breakdown of rocks, such as oxidation producing rust on iron-containing rocks.

Front

What is mechanical weathering?

Back

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

Front

What is acid rain?

Back

Rain that has been made acidic by pollutants in the atmosphere, which can lead to chemical weathering of rocks.

Front

What is ice wedging?

Back

A type of mechanical weathering where water seeps into cracks in rocks, freezes, and expands, causing the rock to break apart.

Front

What is abrasion?

Back

The process of wearing down rocks through friction and impact, often caused by wind or water carrying particles.

Front

What role does gravity play in erosion?

Back

Gravity causes materials to move downhill, contributing to erosion and the transport of sediments.

Front

What is sediment?

Back

Small particles of rock and soil that are transported and deposited by wind, water, or ice.