Science Flashcards: Erosion and Weathering

Questions and Answers

What is weathering?

Weathering is the process in which rocks break down into sediments.

What are the two main types of weathering?

Physical and chemical.

What is erosion?

Erosion is when moving water, glaciers, and winds carry sediments into a new location.

What process forms the particles that are involved in erosion?

Weathering. Signup and view all the answers

What is deposition?

Deposition is when gravity drops the sediments into a new location and they settle on the bottom. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main force that causes erosion and deposition?

Gravity. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three agents of erosion?

Moving water, wind, and ice. Signup and view all the answers

What is a delta?

A delta is a fan-shaped deposit of sediment at the base of a mountain. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how weathering, erosion, and deposition work together to form a delta.

Weathering breaks down rock into sediments, erosion carries it, and deposition drops it. Signup and view all the answers

Define how oxbow lakes and meanders are related.

A meander is a curve in a stream, and an oxbow lake forms when a meander gets cut off during a flood. Signup and view all the answers

What is one way that physical and chemical weathering are the same?

Both processes break down rock to form sediments Signup and view all the answers

What is a difference between physical and chemical weathering?

Physical weathering breaks down rock by physical forces Signup and view all the answers

What is another difference between physical and chemical weathering?

Chemical weathering alters the rock's composition Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Weathering

Weathering is the breakdown of rocks into smaller sediments.
Two primary types of weathering:
- Physical weathering, which involves mechanical forces.
- Chemical weathering, which involves chemical reactions altering the rock's composition.

Erosion

Erosion is the transportation of sediments by natural forces such as water, glaciers, and wind.
Weathering is the process that generates the particles involved in erosion.

Deposition

Deposition occurs when gravity causes sediments to settle at a new location after being transported.

Forces of Erosion and Deposition

Gravity is the principal force driving both erosion and deposition processes.

Agents of Erosion

The three main agents responsible for erosion are:
- Moving water
- Wind
- Ice

Deltas

A delta is a fan-shaped deposit of sediment found at the base of a mountain where a stream flows into a flatter plain.
Weathering, erosion, and deposition collaborate to create a delta:
- Weathering breaks rocks into sediments.
- Erosion transports these sediments to a new location.
- Deposition settles the sediments at the delta's base.

Oxbow Lakes and Meanders

A meander is a bend or curve in a stream.
An oxbow lake forms when a meander is cut off from the main stream during flooding, creating a separate lake.
Flooding can cause a stream to reroute, bypassing a meander and forming an oxbow lake.

Physical vs. Chemical Weathering

Physical weathering involves breaking down rocks without changing their composition.
Chemical weathering involves alterations in rock composition due to chemical reactions.
Both types of weathering aim to reduce rocks to sediments, allowing for erosion and deposition processes.

Description

Test your knowledge on erosion, weathering, and deposition with these flashcards. Understand the processes that shape our landscapes, including physical and chemical weathering. Ideal for students learning about earth science!