Weathering and Erosion Learning Activities - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step to fill in the blanks based on what we know about gravity and mass movements.

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First blank:
> Gravity causes sediments to _______________ by the actions of water or glacial ice

Gravity helps move sediments that have already been loosened by water or ice. The word here is likely “move” or “be transported” — but since it says “by the actions of water or glacial ice”, gravity is assisting those forces. In geology, we often say gravity causes sediments to “move downhill” or simply “move”. But looking at context, the best fit is:

→ “move”

But wait — let’s check the next line for clues.

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Second blank:
> gravity can also be its _______________ of erosion

This means gravity itself can cause erosion directly — not just help other agents. So gravity can be an agent of erosion.

→ “agent”

That makes sense: Water, wind, ice, and gravity are all agents of erosion.

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Third blank:
> _______________ – the pulling of sediments or rocks downhill by gravity

This is defining a term. The general term for material moving downhill due to gravity is mass movement (or mass wasting). But since the whole worksheet is about mass movements, and this is a definition, the blank is probably asking for the name of the process.

Actually, rereading: “the pulling of sediments or rocks downhill by gravity” — that’s the definition of mass movement.

But wait — the sentence structure suggests the blank is the *term* being defined. So:

→ “Mass movement”

Yes.

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Fourth blank:
> _______________ are a rapid, large scale example of a mass movement.

Looking at the diagrams: Rock fall, Landslide, Mud slide, Slumping.

Which one is described as “rapid, large scale”? All except creep are relatively fast, but “landslide” is commonly used as the classic example of rapid, large-scale mass movement.

Also, in the diagram, “Landslide” shows blocks sliding down a slope — very visual and dramatic.

→ “Landslides”

(Plural because it says “are”)

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Fifth and sixth blanks:
> For mass movement to occur, gravity must _______________ the _______________ forces that hold materials in place.

Gravity has to overcome the forces holding things in place — like friction, cohesion, root systems, etc.

So: gravity must overcome the resisting forces.

→ “overcome” and “resisting”

Sometimes called “frictional” or “holding” forces, but “resisting” is standard in geology.

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Seventh and eighth blanks:
> Mass movements can be very _______________, such as the creep of surface soil on a slope which make take years to move a few centimeters or occur _______________ and violently as in a landslide.

Creep is slow — so first blank: “slow”

Then contrast with landslides — they happen quickly → “suddenly” or “rapidly”

The phrase is “occur _______________ and violently” — so adverb needed.

→ “suddenly” fits well.

Some might say “quickly”, but “suddenly” matches the violence implied.

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Now let’s compile all answers:

1. move
2. agent
3. Mass movement
4. Landslides
5. overcome
6. resisting
7. slow
8. suddenly

Wait — let’s double-check #1.

Original: “causes sediments to _______________ by the actions of water or glacial ice”

If water or ice are doing the action, then gravity is helping them move the sediments. So yes — “move” is correct.

Alternatively, some texts say “transport”, but “move” is simpler and fits.

Another possibility: “settle”? No — settling is deposition, not movement by water/ice.

No — “move” is right.

Also, #3: Is it “Mass movement” or “Mass wasting”? Both are acceptable, but the title of the section is “Some Types of Mass Movements”, so “Mass movement” is consistent.

#4: “Landslides” — plural, since verb is “are”.

#5–6: “overcome the resisting forces” — standard phrasing.

#7–8: “very slow... occur suddenly and violently” — perfect contrast.

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Final Answer:

Gravity
-- causes sediments to move by the actions of water or glacial ice
-- gravity can also be its agent of erosion
Mass movement – the pulling of sediments or rocks downhill by gravity
Landslides are a rapid, large scale example of a mass movement.
For mass movement to occur, gravity must overcome the resisting forces that hold materials in place.
Mass movements can be very slow, such as the creep of surface soil on a slope which may take years to move a few centimeters or occur suddenly and violently as in a landslide.

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Final Answer:
move, agent, Mass movement, Landslides, overcome, resisting, slow, suddenly