Weathering and Erosion Flashcards

Grade 4 · Science · Flashcards

Key terms and concepts for understanding how Earth's surface changes over time.

Flashcards

Weathering: The process of breaking rocks and minerals into smaller pieces through physical or chemical means
Erosion: The transportation of weathered rock and soil from one place to another by wind, water, ice, or gravity
Deposition: The laying down of eroded sediment in a new location when the transporting force slows or stops
Physical weathering: The mechanical breaking of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition
Chemical weathering: The breakdown of rocks through chemical reactions that change the minerals they contain
Ice wedging: Physical weathering where water in rock cracks freezes, expands, and breaks the rock apart
Sediment: Loose pieces of rock, sand, soil, and organic material moved by erosion
Abrasion: Physical weathering caused by rocks scraping and grinding against each other
Agent of erosion: A natural force that moves sediment, including water, wind, ice, and gravity
Soil erosion: The removal of topsoil by wind or water, which can be reduced by planting vegetation
Delta: A landform created by deposition at the mouth of a river where it meets a larger body of water
Canyon: A deep valley with steep sides carved by erosion, often by a river cutting through rock over millions of years
Oxidation: A type of chemical weathering where iron in rocks reacts with oxygen and water, forming rust