Objective Students will have an understanding of how rocks change due to weathering and erosion.

Vocabulary Words weathering – a processes at or near Earth’s surface that cause rocks and minerals to break down erosion – process of removing Earth materials from their original sites through weathering and transport rock cycle - a continuous process by which rocks are created, changed from one form to another, destroyed, and then formed again.

How Break Down As you know rocks can breaks down into smaller bits. There are many ways that a rock may break down. There are broken down by water, wind, and other ways. When a rock breaks down, it makes pebbles, sans, silt, and clay.

How Rocks Change Have you ever been outside on a very windy day? Sometimes, small pieces of sand or dirt may hit you legs or face. It hurts! A rock begins to break down when the wind blows bits of sand and pebbles on it. This is called weathering a processes that cause rocks and minerals to break down

Changing Rocks Another way rocks change into smaller bits is by moving water. You may have help a pebble in your hand that feels smooth. That pebble most likely was smoothed by water in a stream or by ocean waves. This is called weathering a processes that cause rocks and minerals to break down

The Rock Cycle, Weathering and Erosion Rocks can be broken down into small pieces. Rocks break down into pebbles, pebbles break down into sand. Sand breaks down into silt. Silt breaks down into clay. This happens because of weathering.

These are some ways weathering can happen Water, wind, and other ways Water, wind, and other ways of these, water appears to be the leader in changing the surface.

Weathering by Water Fast moving water causes rocks to hit one another breaking them into smaller rocks.

Weathering by Frozen Water Frost Wedging – cracking of rock by the expansion of water as it freezes in crevices and cracks! Poor rock.

Weathering by Root Penetration Plant roots have to be strong to survive the elements. Powerful plant roots grow into rock cracks and cause fractures in rocks. This is another form of weathering.

Weathering by the Wind The wind blows and picks up small particles of sand and blasts large rocks with the abrasive particles, cutting and shaping the rock

More Weathering Land is constantly being changed and worn down by wind, water, and ice. original level of the plateau

Erosion Erosion – a process of removing Earth materials from their original sites through weathering and transport (movement)

Erosion Remember: Erosion involves removal and transport.

Erosion Rain, wind, and streams are all parts of erosion.

If a particle is loosened by weathering, but stays put, its just weathering. If it starts moving, its Erosion. Remember this!: You’ll be quizzed soon!

Experiment Observation: The earth’s crust is not flat everywhere. Hypothesis/question: How can sand show weathering and erosion? Use the Sand Experiment handout for directions.

Interactive Quiz k/?id=22 k/?id=22

Quiz Questions 1. Waves are crashing on a sand beach. 1. As the sand is moving there is definitely erosion; there is also abrasion from the sand gains colliding. Both

2. Water expands as it freezes in the cracks of rocks. 2. This is frost wedging so it ’ s weathering. There is no mention of movement. Weathering Quiz Questions

3. Pebbles move down a stream with the current. 3. There is probably some weathering, but there is definitely erosion. Erosion or Both Quiz Questions

4. a rock slide. 4. A rock slide could be both weathering and erosion. because the rocks changed slide rock and may hit other rocks.. Quiz Questions

5. A man shovels dirt to plant a tree. 5.Since the man is transporting Earth materials, it ’ s Erosion. Quiz Questions

6. A Glacier slowly moves down a mountain. 6. A glacier moving down a mountain would have both weathering and erosion. Both Quiz Questions

7. A tree ’ s roots grow into the cracks of rocks. 7. A tree ’ s roots growing into cracks of rocks would be weathering. Weathering Quiz Questions

8. A major volcano erupts. 8. A major volcanic eruption would involve both weathering and erosion. Both Quiz Questions

9. A boy takes out the garbage for his mother. 9. Unless the garbage has “ Earth Material ” or dirt in it there is probably no erosion or weathering. Neither Quiz Questions

10. A shovel is left outside and begins to rust. 10. The rusting of a shovel is oxidation. This is chemical weathering. Weathering Quiz Questions

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