Worksheet on weathering and erosion with definitions and photo matching activity.

Let’s go step by step to solve this homework problem.

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First, look at Question 1: “Which is correct? Circle the right word.”

We have two sentences:

Sentence 1:
“weathering / erosion: The process that moves weathered material away from where it came originally.”

→ This describes erosion, because erosion is about *moving* broken-down material (like soil or rock pieces) from one place to another — usually by wind, water, ice, or gravity. Weathering doesn’t move things — it just breaks them down in place.

✔ So for #1, circle erosion.

Sentence 2:
“weathering / erosion: Any process that breaks material like rock into small pieces.”

→ This is weathering. Weathering is when rocks break apart due to rain, freezing, plant roots, etc. It doesn’t involve moving the pieces — just breaking them.

✔ So for #2, circle weathering.

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Now, Question 2: Match words (1–7) with photos (a–g).

Let’s look at each photo and think what it shows:

- Photo a: A tree growing out of cracked rock. Roots are splitting the rock → That’s weathering by plants → matches #5

- Photo b: Tall rock formations with trees, looks like wind has shaped them over time → Could be erosion by wind → matches #3

Wait — let’s check all carefully.

Actually, let’s list the terms again:

1. glacier
2. erosion by gravity
3. erosion by wind
4. erosion by water
5. weathering by plants
6. weathering by water
7. deposition

Now match each photo:

- Photo a: Tree roots cracking rock → 5. weathering by plants

- Photo b: Rock spires (hoodoos), often formed by wind and water erosion — but since we have “erosion by wind” as option 3, and these shapes are classic wind-carved features → 3. erosion by wind

- Photo c: Smooth, wavy sandstone layers — likely carved by wind over time → also could be wind erosion? But wait — maybe not. Let’s hold on.

Actually, let’s look at Photo e: Sand dunes with ripples → that’s clearly wind deposition or erosion by wind? Dunes are built by wind depositing sand → so that might be deposition (#7) or erosion by wind (#3).

But let’s use logic:

- Photo f: Big blue ice wall → that’s a glacier → matches #1

- Photo g: Beach with waves hitting shore → that’s erosion by water → matches #4

- Photo d: Pile of rocks at bottom of slope → looks like rocks fell down due to gravity → erosion by gravity → matches #2 (and you already wrote “d” next to #2 — good!)

- Photo e: Sand dune with ripples → wind moved the sand and deposited it → this is deposition → matches #7

- Now left: Photos b and c

Photo b: Hoodoos — tall thin spires of rock. These are often formed by water erosion (rain washing softer rock away) AND wind. But since we have “weathering by water” and “erosion by water”, which is which?

Weathering = breaking down in place
Erosion = carrying away

Hoodoos form when water seeps into cracks, freezes, expands (weathering), then rain washes away soft parts (erosion). But the shape is mostly from erosion.

Wait — Photo c: Wavy orange rock — looks like ancient riverbeds or wind-sculpted sandstone. Actually, this looks like slot canyon or wind erosion too.

But let’s think differently.

What about weathering by water? That would be water breaking rock without moving it — like freeze-thaw cycles.

Is there a photo showing that? Maybe not directly.

Wait — perhaps Photo c is weathering by water? Not sure.

Alternative approach: Let’s assign what we’re sure of first.

Confirmed:

- f → glacier → #1
- d → erosion by gravity → #2 (already matched)
- e → sand dune → deposition → #7
- g → beach/waves → erosion by water → #4
- a → tree roots → weathering by plants → #5

Left: Photos b and c
Left terms: #3 erosion by wind, #6 weathering by water

Photo b: Hoodoos — typically formed by water erosion (but sometimes wind). However, in many textbooks, hoodoos are associated with water erosion.

But we already used “erosion by water” for photo g.

Wait — maybe photo g is more about coastal erosion (waves), and photo b is inland water erosion? But we only have one “erosion by water”.

Perhaps photo c is erosion by wind? The smooth curves look like wind-blown sandstone.

Actually, let’s check standard examples:

- Glaciers: photo f ✔
- Erosion by gravity: photo d ✔
- Deposition: photo e (sand dune) ✔
- Erosion by water: photo g (ocean waves eroding coast) ✔
- Weathering by plants: photo a ✔
- Left: b and c → must be erosion by wind and weathering by water

Photo b: Has vertical columns — could be from water seeping and freezing (weathering by water)? Or wind carving?

Actually, Bryce Canyon hoodoos are primarily formed by frost wedging (water freezing in cracks) — that’s weathering by water!

Yes! Frost wedging is a type of physical weathering caused by water.

So:

- Photo b → weathering by water → #6

Then Photo c → must be erosion by wind → #3

That makes sense — the smooth, flowing shapes in photo c look like wind-scoured rock (like in deserts).

So final matching:

1. glacier → f
2. erosion by gravity → d
3. erosion by wind → c
4. erosion by water → g
5. weathering by plants → a
6. weathering by water → b
7. deposition → e

Double-check:

- a: tree roots → weathering by plants → 5 ✔
- b: hoodoos → weathering by water (frost wedging) → 6 ✔
- c: wind-sculpted rock → erosion by wind → 3 ✔
- d: rockfall → erosion by gravity → 2 ✔
- e: sand dune → deposition → 7 ✔
- f: glacier → 1 ✔
- g: ocean erosion → erosion by water → 4 ✔

Perfect.

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Final Answer:

Question 1:
1. erosion
2. weathering

Question 2:
1 → f
2 → d
3 → c
4 → g
5 → a
6 → b
7 → e