Weathering and Erosion Unit Study Guide
Name: __________________________
Test #1Weathering: Date for Weathering Test = September 24th (A Day), September
25th(B Day)

Know the definitions of chemical & mechanical weathering.

Chemical weathering is a type of weathering in which rock is broken down through chemical changes.
(Statue of Liberty)
Mechanical weathering is a type of weathering in which rock is physically broken into smaller pieces using
force. (Grand Canyon)

What makes mechanical weathering and chemical weathering the same?
Both types are able to break down rocks.
What makes mechanical weathering and chemical weathering different?
Chemical weathering changes the compositions chemical make-up (Statue of Liberty & rust)
Be able to identify descriptions & provide examples of each type of weathering. (Graphic organizer flash card
examples)
Mechanical Weathering
 Release of Pressure--Causes top layers of the rock to crack and flake off
 Freezing & Thawing--Water freezes causing the crack to get bigger
 Animal Actions--Animals dig, this loosens the soil & breaks apart rocks.
 Plant Root Growth--Roots grow in cracks in the rock breaking them apart
 Abrasion--Sand in wind, water, or ice can wear away rock
Chemical Weathering
 Water--most important cause of chemical weathering; dissolves rock
 Oxygen-- Rust is formed by the chemical reaction called Oxidation (H2O+O+Fe=Rust)
 Carbon Dioxide-- Dissolves soft rock underground, making caves and sinkholes, as CO2 mixes with rainwater
to produce Carbonic Acid
 Living Organisms--Roots of plants make a weak acid & dissolves rocks around the plant
 Acid Rain-- Weathers rock rapidly, especially in areas with lots of pollution
4. Know the details of the 2 factors that determine the rate of weathering. (Study rate of weathering worksheet).
5. Know how weathering is different from erosion and deposition (examples Study the Card examples of
Weathering, Erosion, & Deposition graphic organizer)
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Test #2 Erosion & Deposition: Date for Erosion Test = Friday (A Day and B Day)
1. Know the definition of erosion and deposition.
2. Know how erosion is different from weathering and deposition (examples will come from worksheet Study the
stapled W.E.D graphic organizer examples).
3. Identify some types of erosion. (Student written notes on Erosion: this includes wind, waves, glacier, and water
erosion)
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Essay Question Options: CHOOSE 1 & PRACTICE WRITING BEFORE THE TEST on SEPT.
24th & 25th You will complete the essay question with the 1st test.
1. Suppose that you have just returned from a visit to a limestone cave, such as Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Write
an article describing your visit to the cave. Include how the cave formed, what you saw during your visit, and how
features inside the cave developed.
2. A mass of mud roaring down a hill can be very dangerous. Pretend you saw this and describe what is sounded like.
Include the weather conditions on that day and the day before. What objects did you see come down in the
mudslide. Was the road blocked? What caused this to happen?
3. A salesperson offers to sell your family a new house right on a riverbank for very little money. Why might your
family hesitate to buy this house?
4. Describe the process by which groundwater can cause erosion and deposition in limestone beneath Earth’s
surface.