How Weathering and Erosion Change the Land

Science · Earth's Systems · ages 9-10

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Which term describes broken rock or soil being carried away to a new place?
- Weathering
- Erosion
- Melting
Which term describes rock breaking apart but staying in the same place?
- Weathering
- Erosion
- Evaporation
Wind can wear away rock over time.
Circle one: True False
Which agent cracks rock apart by freezing inside a crack and expanding?
- Ice
- Vegetation
- Wind
A river bank gets a little narrower every year. What is most likely happening?
- The soil is growing bigger
- The river is freezing solid
- Water is eroding soil from the bank
A class measured soil washed off a hill after each storm: 3 cm, 6 cm, and 9 cm. How many centimeters of soil eroded in all three storms combined?
Answer: ______________
A scientist compares photos of the same cliff taken 20 years apart. In the new photo, the cliff edge sits farther back and there's a large pile of rock and sand at the bottom near the water. What does this best show?
- Evidence that the cliff grew taller
- Evidence that no rock moved in 20 years
- Evidence that weathering and erosion changed the landscape over time
Sam's backyard cliff crumbled into a pile of rocks at its base. Sam says the pile alone proves erosion happened. Is his reasoning correct?
- Yes, any broken rock is automatically erosion
- No, the pile shows weathering happened, not that the pieces moved elsewhere
- No, rocks that crumble aren't made of minerals

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Erosion · Erosion is the movement of broken rock and soil from one spot to another.
Weathering · Weathering breaks rock down right where it sits. It doesn't move the pieces anywhere.
True · Wind blows tiny grains of sand against rock, slowly wearing it smooth.
Ice · Water seeps into a crack, freezes into ice, and expands, splitting the rock apart.
Water is eroding soil from the bank · Moving water carries soil away bit by bit, so the bank slowly shrinks over years.
18 · Add the three measurements together: 3 + 6 + 9 = 18 centimeters of soil eroded.
Evidence that weathering and erosion changed the landscape over time · The retreated edge and the pile of rock and sand show that rock broke down and was carried away over the years.
No, the pile shows weathering happened, not that the pieces moved elsewhere · The rock broke apart in place, which is weathering. For it to be erosion, the pieces would need to move somewhere new, like washing downhill.