Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition Overview

What is weathering?

• The freezing of water inside rocks

• The dropping of sediments in a new place

• The breaking down of rocks and minerals into smaller pieces

• The process of carrying rocks from one place to another

What can cause rocks to be weathered?

• Glaciers moving across the land

• Sediments being carried by wind

• Deposition of minerals in a new place

• Plants growing in soil

How can ice weather a rock?

• By carrying it to a new location

• By melting and flowing over it

• By covering it and protecting it from the sun

• By freezing and expanding inside cracks

What is erosion?

• The movement of sediments from one place to another

• The breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces

• The expansion of water when it freezes

• The building up of layers of sediments over time

Which of the following is a great example of erosion?

• A glacier moving across land

• Sand being deposited into dunes

• A river carrying sediments downstream

• Ice breaking a rock apart

How are sand dunes formed?

• By ice freezing and expanding in rocks

• By strong winds blowing sand across the desert

• By rivers slowing down and depositing sediments

• By glaciers grinding down rocks

What is deposition?

• The movement of water in a river

• The breaking down of rocks by water

• The dropping or depositing of sediments in a new place

• The carrying of rocks by glaciers

What happens when a river enters a lake or ocean?

• The water speeds up and erodes more soil

• The sediments are carried back upstream

• The water slows down and sediments settle out

• Glaciers begin to form at the mouth of the river

What are deltas formed from?

• The deposition of sediments at the mouth of a river

• The erosion of soil by strong winds

• The weathering of rocks by glaciers

• The freezing and thawing of water in rocks

Why is the soil in deltas very rich in nutrients?

• Because it is made up of many layers of sediments

• Because it is very easy for plants to grow there

• Because it is constantly watered by the river

• Because it contains minerals from weathered rocks