Weathering Erosion Deposition worksheet - Free Printable
Educational worksheet: Weathering Erosion Deposition worksheet. Download and print for classroom or home learning activities.
JPG
1000×1291
107.3 KB
Free · Personal Use
Quality Assured by Worksheets Library Team
Reviewed for educational accuracy and age-appropriateness
ID: #1019955
⭐
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Weathering Erosion Deposition worksheet
▼
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Weathering Erosion Deposition worksheet
Let’s go through each question one by one and solve them using simple, clear explanations.
---
1. What is weathering?
Weathering is when rocks break down into smaller pieces right where they are — without moving. It can happen because of wind, water, ice, or even plants growing in cracks.
→ Answer: The breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces at their original location.
---
2. The movement of sediment from one place to another is the process of ________.
When bits of rock (sediment) get carried away by wind, water, or ice, that’s called erosion.
→ Answer: erosion
---
3. What are the four main causes of weathering?
The big four are:
- Water (like rain or rivers)
- Wind (blowing sand against rocks)
- Ice (water freezing in cracks and expanding)
- Living things (plants roots pushing apart rocks)
→ Answer: Water, wind, ice, and living organisms (or biological activity)
*(Note: Sometimes “temperature changes” is listed instead of “living things,” but both are valid. For school level, these four are common.)*
---
4. The dropping of sediment by wind, water, ice, or gravity is known as ________.
When the wind stops blowing or water slows down, it drops the stuff it was carrying. That’s deposition.
→ Answer: deposition
---
5. What happens to a rock that has rainwater entering its cracks and then freezing?
Water expands when it freezes. So if water gets into a crack and freezes, it pushes the crack wider. Over time, this breaks the rock apart. This is called “ice wedging.”
→ Answer: The water freezes, expands, and makes the crack bigger — eventually breaking the rock.
---
6. What are sediments?
Sediments are tiny pieces of broken-down rock, sand, mud, or other materials that have been moved by wind, water, or ice.
→ Answer: Small particles of rock, sand, or soil that have been worn away and transported.
---
7. True or false: Erosion always takes a very long time to happen.
False! Some erosion happens fast — like during a flood or landslide. But some erosion is slow, like wind wearing down a cliff over hundreds of years.
→ Answer: False
---
8. When wind dies down or stops blowing ________ happens.
When the wind stops, it can’t carry the sand or dust anymore — so it drops it. That’s deposition.
→ Answer: deposition
---
9. What process involves the breaking of rocks over time due to wind?
Wind blows sand and small rocks against bigger rocks, chipping them away slowly. That’s still weathering — specifically, mechanical weathering caused by wind.
→ Answer: Weathering (specifically, abrasion by wind)
*(But since the question says “process,” and doesn’t specify type, “weathering” is correct.)*
---
10. What process is taking place when moving water is carrying away small pieces of rock?
That’s erosion — because the water is moving the sediment from one place to another.
→ Answer: Erosion
---
Final Answer:
1. The breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces at their original location.
2. erosion
3. Water, wind, ice, and living organisms
4. deposition
5. The water freezes, expands, and makes the crack bigger — eventually breaking the rock.
6. Small particles of rock, sand, or soil that have been worn away and transported.
7. False
8. deposition
9. Weathering
10. Erosion
---
1. What is weathering?
Weathering is when rocks break down into smaller pieces right where they are — without moving. It can happen because of wind, water, ice, or even plants growing in cracks.
→ Answer: The breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces at their original location.
---
2. The movement of sediment from one place to another is the process of ________.
When bits of rock (sediment) get carried away by wind, water, or ice, that’s called erosion.
→ Answer: erosion
---
3. What are the four main causes of weathering?
The big four are:
- Water (like rain or rivers)
- Wind (blowing sand against rocks)
- Ice (water freezing in cracks and expanding)
- Living things (plants roots pushing apart rocks)
→ Answer: Water, wind, ice, and living organisms (or biological activity)
*(Note: Sometimes “temperature changes” is listed instead of “living things,” but both are valid. For school level, these four are common.)*
---
4. The dropping of sediment by wind, water, ice, or gravity is known as ________.
When the wind stops blowing or water slows down, it drops the stuff it was carrying. That’s deposition.
→ Answer: deposition
---
5. What happens to a rock that has rainwater entering its cracks and then freezing?
Water expands when it freezes. So if water gets into a crack and freezes, it pushes the crack wider. Over time, this breaks the rock apart. This is called “ice wedging.”
→ Answer: The water freezes, expands, and makes the crack bigger — eventually breaking the rock.
---
6. What are sediments?
Sediments are tiny pieces of broken-down rock, sand, mud, or other materials that have been moved by wind, water, or ice.
→ Answer: Small particles of rock, sand, or soil that have been worn away and transported.
---
7. True or false: Erosion always takes a very long time to happen.
False! Some erosion happens fast — like during a flood or landslide. But some erosion is slow, like wind wearing down a cliff over hundreds of years.
→ Answer: False
---
8. When wind dies down or stops blowing ________ happens.
When the wind stops, it can’t carry the sand or dust anymore — so it drops it. That’s deposition.
→ Answer: deposition
---
9. What process involves the breaking of rocks over time due to wind?
Wind blows sand and small rocks against bigger rocks, chipping them away slowly. That’s still weathering — specifically, mechanical weathering caused by wind.
→ Answer: Weathering (specifically, abrasion by wind)
*(But since the question says “process,” and doesn’t specify type, “weathering” is correct.)*
---
10. What process is taking place when moving water is carrying away small pieces of rock?
That’s erosion — because the water is moving the sediment from one place to another.
→ Answer: Erosion
---
Final Answer:
1. The breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces at their original location.
2. erosion
3. Water, wind, ice, and living organisms
4. deposition
5. The water freezes, expands, and makes the crack bigger — eventually breaking the rock.
6. Small particles of rock, sand, or soil that have been worn away and transported.
7. False
8. deposition
9. Weathering
10. Erosion
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of weather erosion and deposition worksheet.
