Weathering and Erosion

Grade :9 –Practice Test -

02/09/20
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Landforms and Changes

There are mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers, oceans, deserts and many other landforms that make up the
earth’s surface. Many of them you may have experienced. A landform is a natural feature of the earth’s
surface. It is often formed over a long period of time, sometimes millions of years.
During the millions of years, landforms change. For example, a small stream may change into a raging river,
or a mountain may turn into a plateau (flat area but higher than the land around it). Islands have formed due
to volcanic eruptions in the oceans, and valleys are created by rivers that have flowed down from the tops
and sides of mountains.
Landforms are constantly changing, though you may not see the changes, they are taking place. A geologist studies
how landforms are created, how they interact with each other, and how they change. There are some landforms that
can be manmade, like lakes, ponds, and small hills, but most landforms in the world are natural.
Landforms are usually made up of rocks, soil, mud, clay, minerals, and other debris. The movement of these
sediments is caused by weathering and erosion. Without weathering and erosion, the landforms throughout
the world would never change. The Grand Canyon would not exist, rivers would stay flowing like streams,
and there would be more mountains and fewer valleys.
Often, people confuse the meanings of weathering and erosion. Weathering is the process of decomposing,
breaking up, or changing the color of rocks.
Erosion, on the other hand, is the movement of
the rocks and sediment that have been broken
apart by weathering.
Think of it this way: If a rock is changed or broken
due to weather, it is called weathering. However,
when the broken pieces of the rock are moved
away, it is called erosion.
Weathering
When you hear the word weather you probably think of cold and heat, rain and snow, or air and wind.
Geologists study weathering that is caused by water, air, chemicals, plants or animals. There are three
types of weathering, and each type can lead to erosion and changes in landforms.

Type Description Example

Involves changes in the minerals of the rock, Some rocks include minerals, such
or on the surface of the rock, that makes the as iron, and the iron is exposed to
Chemical rock change its shape or color. Carbon dioxide, oxygen. This causes the rocks to
oxygen, water, and acids may cause chemical soften, and can easily become broken
weathering. into smaller pieces.
Involves breaking larger rocks into smaller Water seeps inside a rock and the
pieces, but the minerals of the rock do not water freezes, it expands causing
Mechanical change. It is caused by frost, ice, moving water, cracks in the rock, and eventually the
or heat from the sun. rock breaks apart into smaller pieces.
The process of larger rocks broken into smaller The roots of a plant work their way
pieces, which is caused by plants, animals, into an opening of a rock, and as the
Biological or other living organisms. It may also lead to plant grows, the rock breaks apart
chemical weathering. into smaller pieces.

There are many other examples of chemical,

mechanical, and biological weathering but they
can easily be identified based on asking the
question: How did the rock break apart?
If it broke apart because of chemicals, it is
chemical weathering; if it breaks apart but is still
the same rock but only smaller, it is mechanical
weathering. Finally, if a living organism causes
changes to the rock, it is biological weathering.
Of course, following biological or chemical
weathering, it is still possible for a rock to be
changed through chemical weathering.
Erosion
Weathering causes the breakup of rocks, but usually those smaller
pieces begin to move by wind, water, ice, or even animals. When
these smaller pieces, called pebbles, sand, or soil, begin to move
by natural forces, it is called erosion. However, if you use a shovel
to move rocks or soil, it is not erosion.
Erosion may take place in just a few minutes, or it could occur over thousands or millions of years, very
slowly. The main cause of erosion on the Earth is water. If you have ever been to the beach, and have
seen the waves of the ocean, the ocean water is constantly moving the sands of a beach.
The two other main forces that cause erosion is wind and ice. At the same beach on a windy day, you
might feel the grains of sand on your body and face as the wind causes the sand to travel from place to
place. Finally, glaciers of ice slowly move carving out valleys and forming mountains.
Overall, there are many different causes of erosion taking place on the Earth
Cause How
Rain hits the earth’s surface, sometimes called splash erosion. The drops of rain
Precipitation
gather together and flow like small streams, moving debris as it flows.
Particles along the bottom of a river are carried downstream causing erosion over time,
Rivers
and many geologists believe the Grand Canyon was formed by the Colorado River.
Ocean waves cause a coastline to erode, breaking pieces of rock. Usually over long
Waves period of time, the shape of a coastline may change. However, during a hurricane,
damage from erosion can take place in the matter of hours.
Flooding allows water to move and wash out everything in its path. Often, following
Floods
heavy rains or storms, flooding leads to damage and destruction from erosion.
In dry areas, wind picks up and carries loose particles and dust, sometimes crashing
Wind
into other land parts and breaking off more particles (abrasion).
Like rivers of ice, glaciers’ movement cause erosion and have formed mountains and
Glaciers
valleys throughout the world. The Ice Age led to landform changes.
The force of gravity is a cause of erosion, as landslides or rock slides occur down the
Gravity
side of a mountain or cliff.
Living Many small animals move through the soil and rocks of the Earth, moving the particles
Organisms from one place to another, which often leads wind or water carrying it away.
Though it is not natural erosion, humans cause erosion through farming, cutting down
Humans
trees, and building roads and structures.
Weathering and erosion never stops. The processes are always occurring naturally throughout the world.
You may not see it taking place, but the next time there is a heavy rain, with permission, take a walk
through your neighborhood. You will notice the rain water moving through areas like a stream carrying
debris such as soil and rocks to other places.
Finally, once the movement of sediment, such as pebbles, sand, mud, or even boulders are reach their
final (or temporary) resting place, it is called deposition. It is the laying down of sediment carried by wind,
water, ice or other causes of erosion. The sediment may be deposited at mouths of rivers, the bases of
mountains, and many other places, or perhaps in your front yard.
In summary, weathering causes rocks and minerals to be broken down into smaller pieces. However,
erosion is the cause of these broken pieces to be carried away to other places. There are three types of
weathering: chemical, mechanical, and biological. There are several causes of erosion, but water is the
the main force followed by wind and ice.

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 Name __________________________ Date _________

Match the definition with the correct term.

1 Time-period on Earth when glaciers caused erosion. A Abrasion

2 Rocks crashing into other rocks breaking off more particles. B Deposition

3 Decomposing, breaking up, or changing the color of rocks. C Erosion

4 Flat area of land that is higher than the land surrounding it. D Geologist

5 Movement or rocks and sediment that have broken apart. E Geology

6 May include sand, rocks, pebbles, soil, dust and other particles. F Ice Age

7 The person who studies rocks and minerals. G Landform

8 A natural feature of the Earth’s surface. H Plateau

9 The study of rocks and minerals. I Sediments

10 The process of sediments reaching their destination. J Weathering

Tell whether each example is Chemical (C), Mechanical (M), or Biological (B) weathering.
11 Baseball-sized hail began to smash against the hillside breaking apart the soil.
12 Salt water enters a rock, water dries, salt crystals grow and wedge the rock apart.
13 Minerals in rocks dissolve forming stalactites/stalagmites in a cave.
14 The tree roots are causing the concrete slabs of a sidewalk to break apart.
15 The wind and rain has caused damage to the tombstones in a cemetery.
16 A seed has found its way into a rock and a plant is beginning to split the small stone.
17 The pollution has recently been high, and acid rain is destroying some monuments.
18 A combination of fungi and algae grow upon the surface of a rock slowly “eating it away”.

19 Flooding has caused a landslide and part of the hillside has been affected.
20 The salty water of the ocean is eating away the concrete support posts of the pier.
 Name __________________________ Date _________

Match the statement with the correct cause of erosion.

1 The coastlines of oceans & beaches have shrunk over time. A Precipitation
2 The raindrops washed away the seeds and soil in the garden. B Rivers
3 The winter snow is melting and is rapidly moving debris. C Waves
4 A tunneling rabbit has led to a small sinkhole in the yard. D Floods
5 A small canyon was formed due to a fast-moving waterway. E Wind
6 A dust storm in the west is causing problems for farmers. F Glaciers
7 The woods have cut down and replaced by hundreds of homes. G Gravity
8 The road was closed following a rock slide along the highway. H Living organisms
9 It has rained for five days; the streets have been washed away. I Human
10 Mountains of ice carved out areas where lakes are now located.
Answer each question.
11. What is the movement of sediments caused by?_ __________________________________________
12. Give two examples of manmade landforms:_______________________________________________
13. Name four things weathering can be caused by:_ __________________________________________
14. Name three main methods smaller pieces of rock move:_____________________________________
15. Name two places sediment may be deposited:_____________________________________________
16. Using the terms from the content pages, explain what may have
caused the openings in the hillside, and what may happen in the future?
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