Science Quiz: Changes to Earth’s Surface

What is weathering?

• The breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces

• The movement of rocks from one place to another

• The process of forming new mountains

• The sudden shifting of Earth’s crust

Which of the following is an example of physical weathering?

• A rock being dissolved by acid rain

• A tree root growing into a rock and breaking it apart

• Iron in rocks rusting over time

• Limestone reacting with carbonic acid

How does ice cause weathering?

• Ice melts and removes soil from an area

• Ice expands in cracks of rocks, causing them to break apart

• Ice creates new rocks by freezing minerals

• Ice prevents rocks from breaking down

What is erosion?

• The breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces

• The movement of sediment from one place to another

• The formation of new rock layers

• The cooling of lava to form new land

Which force is responsible for moving sand dunes in a desert?

• Water

• Wind

• Ice

• Earthquakes

How do glaciers change the Earth’s surface?

• They deposit lava as they move

• They carve valleys and move large rocks

• They break down rocks through acid rain

• They cause earthquakes when they melt

What is deposition?

• The breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces

• The movement of sediment by wind, water, or ice

• The process of sediment being dropped or settled in a new location

• The formation of volcanoes and mountains

Which of the following best describes how a river can change Earth’s surface over time?

• It carries sediment and deposits it at the mouth, forming a delta

• It melts glaciers, causing more ice erosion

• It stops weathering from occurring in valleys

• It creates earthquakes and volcanoes

A sandbar forms along a coastline. What process most likely caused this to happen?

• Erosion by ice

• Weathering by wind

• Deposition of sand by water

• Earthquakes shifting the land

Which of the following is an example of water erosion?

• A rock splitting due to freezing water inside its cracks

• A sand dune moving across the desert

• A river carrying soil downstream after heavy rain

• A rock being broken down by acid rain