#_______Name ___________________________Date__________________Period 1 2 3
Unit 4: The Changing Earth
Vocabulary
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Clay – the smallest rock particle found in soil
Deposition – process by which weathered and eroded material is deposited by wind,
water, or ice
Erosion – the process where earth materials are broken down and moved from one
area to another
Glacier – a thick layer of compacted ice and snow that stays frozen all year
Gravel – small stones and pebbles
Humus – material in the soil formed from decayed plants and animals
Loam – a soil that contains mostly sand and silt and some clay
Minerals – a natural Earth material having a crystal form and its own physical
properties; occurs naturally in rocks and in the ground
Nutrients – substances that an organism needs to live, survive, and grow
Organic material – matter containing the decomposed remains of once-living
organisms
Particle – an extremely small part or piece of matter
Sand – a small particle of rock found on beaches and in the soil
Sediment – small particles of sand, soil, shells, pieces of rocks and minerals, and
organic matter deposited by water, wind, or ice
Silt – a very fine particle of sand, clay, or other material that is carried by moving
water and deposited as sediment
Soil – a mixture of decaying organic material, weathered rock, water, mineral
fragments, and air that takes thousands of years to develop
Weathering – the action of physical conditions on Earth that cause earth materials to
change in color, texture, composition, or form; process which breaks down rocks into
smaller pieces
PROPERTIES OF SOILS
Including, but not limited to:
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Color
Soil particle sizes determine:
o Soil type (e.g., sandy, clay, silty, loamy)
o Texture (e.g., grainy, clay-like or sticky, smooth)
o Capacity to retain water (e.g., high, medium, low)
Texture
Soil particle size (texture)
o Clay
o Silt
o Sand
Possible examples of soil particle size
o Sand (large particles)
o Clay (small particles)
o Silt (tiny particles)
Ability to support the growth of plants
o Factors include:
 Soil type and texture
 Balance of air, rock particles, water, and humus
 The ability of the soil to allow water to penetrate and filter down through
the soil (infiltration and percolation)
o Other factors that may affect the soil's ability to support the growth of plants
 Possible examples may include:
 Soil salinity (salt)
 Soil acidity
 Soil saturation (too much water for plant growth)
 Soil compaction (not enough air for plant growth)
 Lack of humus (lack of nutrients)