Practice worksheet on geological terms and weathering types.

Let’s go step by step to match each definition with the correct term, and then classify each weathering example as Chemical (C), Mechanical (M), or Biological (B).

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Part 1: Match the definition with the correct term

We’ll go one by one:

1. Time-period on Earth when glaciers caused erosion.
→ That’s the Ice Age. Glaciers were widespread and shaped the land.
✔ Answer: F

2. Rocks crashing into other rocks breaking off more particles.
→ This is physical breakdown from impact — that’s Abrasion.
✔ Answer: A

3. Decomposing, breaking up, or changing the color of rocks.
→ This describes Weathering — the general process of rock breakdown.
✔ Answer: J

4. Flat area of land that is higher than the land surrounding it.
→ That’s a Plateau. Think of a flat top mountain.
✔ Answer: H

5. Movement of rocks and sediment that have broken apart.
→ Once rocks break, they move — that’s Erosion.
✔ Answer: C

6. May include sand, rocks, pebbles, soil, dust and other particles.
→ These are all types of Sediments.
✔ Answer: I

7. The person who studies rocks and minerals.
→ That’s a Geologist.
✔ Answer: D

8. A natural feature of the Earth’s surface.
→ Like mountains, valleys, rivers — these are Landforms.
✔ Answer: G

9. The study of rocks and minerals.
→ That’s Geology.
✔ Answer: E

10. The process of sediments reaching their destination.
→ When eroded material stops moving and settles — that’s Deposition.
✔ Answer: B

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Part 2: Tell whether each example is Chemical (C), Mechanical (M), or Biological (B) weathering

Remember:
- Mechanical (M) = physical breaking (no chemical change)
- Chemical (C) = rocks change composition (dissolving, rusting, acid reactions)
- Biological (B) = living things cause breakdown (roots, plants, fungi, animals)

Now let’s go:

11. Baseball-sized hail began to smash against the hillside breaking apart the soil.
→ Hail physically hits and breaks soil → Mechanical
✔ Answer: M

12. Salt water enters a rock, water dries, salt crystals grow and wedge the rock apart.
→ Salt crystal growth pushes rock apart — physical force → Mechanical
✔ Answer: M

13. Minerals in rocks dissolve forming stalactites/stalagmites in a cave.
→ Dissolving = chemical reaction → Chemical
✔ Answer: C

14. The tree roots are causing the concrete slabs of a sidewalk to break apart.
→ Living thing (tree) causing breakage → Biological
✔ Answer: B

15. The wind and rain has caused damage to the tombstones in a cemetery.
→ Wind/rain = physical forces wearing away stone → Mechanical
*(Note: If acid rain was mentioned, it would be chemical — but here it just says “wind and rain”)*
✔ Answer: M

16. A seed has found its way into a rock and a plant is beginning to split the small stone.
→ Plant growing = biological agent → Biological
✔ Answer: B

17. The pollution has recently been high, and acid rain is destroying some monuments.
→ Acid rain chemically reacts with stone → Chemical
✔ Answer: C

18. A combination of fungi and algae grow upon the surface of a rock slowly "eating it away".
→ Fungi/algae = living organisms → Biological
✔ Answer: B

19. Flooding has caused a landslide and part of the hillside has been affected.
→ Water moving soil/rock = physical movement → Mechanical
*(Note: Landslide is erosion/mass wasting, which is mechanical weathering effect)*
✔ Answer: M

20. The salty water of the ocean is eating away the concrete support posts of the pier.
→ “Eating away” suggests chemical corrosion from saltwater → Chemical
✔ Answer: C

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Final Answer:

1. F
2. A
3. J
4. H
5. C
6. I
7. D
8. G
9. E
10. B
11. M
12. M
13. C
14. B
15. M
16. B
17. C
18. B
19. M
20. C