What happens when something weathers over time?

The object breaks down into smaller pieces. It physically changes which can be noticed by is shape, texture and other features.

What does erosion mean?

Erosion is the process of moving material like sand and rocks from one location to another.

Can you think of a type of weather that can change Earth’s surface?

Rain can change earth’s surface. It can soften land, which can make the land easier to crumble and erode away. The sunlight during the summer can cause surfaces to expand and contract. This can cause cracks to form in those surfaces.

What might happen if water freezes in a container?

When water freezes it expands! If water is in a container and allowed to freeze it can either change the shape of that container after expanding or crack the container.

What happens when wind sweeps up sand and throws it against a big rock?

The sand will act like sandpaper and scrape the rock. If this continues to happen, the surface of the rock will change. Over a long time period (thousands or millions of years) the changes to the rock can be dramatic.

How did Split Apple Rock form in New Zealand?

Split Apple Rock was formed by weathering from ice! When water gets into a small space and freezes, it expands and can crack whatever is containing it (just like the metal pipe in the video.)

How does a crack in the sidewalk form?

Izzy mentioned that cracks in the sidewalk formed because the concrete expanded and contracted over time. When the sun heated the sidewalk it caused the concrete to expand. At night the sidewalk cools and the surface contracts. Since this happened many times, the sidewalk eventually cracked. It’s like bending something over and over again – eventually it breaks!

How did mushroom rocks form?

Wind carried sand particles close to the surface and they hit the bottom of the rock more than the top. Since the bottom is carved more it looks like a mushroom.

What are the four main ways weathering can happen?

Water, wind, freezing and gravity.

Does weathering affect different materials differently?

Sometimes weathering happens really fast while at other times it happens very slowly. The amount of time is mostly due to the properties of the rock that is experiencing weathering. For example, soft surfaces like soil will weather really fast but hard surfaces like rock take longer.

Why does deposition occur after erosion?

Deposition means that small pieces of the Earth are deposited, or end up somewhere else. In order for something to end us somewhere else it first has to be moved – that’s erosion!

What happens when something weathers over time?

The object breaks down into smaller pieces. It physically changes which can be noticed by is shape, texture and other features.

What does erosion mean?

Erosion is the process of moving material like sand and rocks from one location to another.

Can you think of a type of weather that can change Earth’s surface?

Rain can change earth’s surface. It can soften land, which can make the land easier to crumble and erode away. The sunlight during the summer can cause surfaces to expand and contract. This can cause cracks to form in those surfaces.

What might happen if water freezes in a container?

When water freezes it expands! If water is in a container and allowed to freeze it can either change the shape of that container after expanding or crack the container.

What happens when wind sweeps up sand and throws it against a big rock?

The sand will act like sandpaper and scrape the rock. If this continues to happen, the surface of the rock will change. Over a long time period (thousands or millions of years) the changes to the rock can be dramatic.

How did Split Apple Rock form in New Zealand?

Split Apple Rock was formed by weathering from ice! When water gets into a small space and freezes, it expands and can crack whatever is containing it (just like the metal pipe in the video.)

How does a crack in the sidewalk form?

Izzy mentioned that cracks in the sidewalk formed because the concrete expanded and contracted over time. When the sun heated the sidewalk it caused the concrete to expand. At night the sidewalk cools and the surface contracts. Since this happened many times, the sidewalk eventually cracked. It’s like bending something over and over again – eventually it breaks!

How did mushroom rocks form?

Wind carried sand particles close to the surface and they hit the bottom of the rock more than the top. Since the bottom is carved more it looks like a mushroom.

What are the four main ways weathering can happen?

Water, wind, freezing and gravity.

Does weathering affect different materials differently?

Sometimes weathering happens really fast while at other times it happens very slowly. The amount of time is mostly due to the properties of the rock that is experiencing weathering. For example, soft surfaces like soil will weather really fast but hard surfaces like rock take longer.

Why does deposition occur after erosion?

Deposition means that small pieces of the Earth are deposited, or end up somewhere else. In order for something to end us somewhere else it first has to be moved – that’s erosion!

Weathering & Erosion Video For Kids

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WEATHERING AND EROSION DEFINITION

Weathering breaks down the Earth’s surface into smaller pieces. Those pieces are moved in a process called erosion, and deposited somewhere else. Weathering can be caused by wind, water, ice, plants, gravity, and changes in temperature.

To better understand how the erosion and weathering process works….

WEATHERING AND EROSION DEFINITION. Weathering breaks down the Earth’s surface into smaller pieces. Those pieces are moved in a process called erosion, and deposited somewhere else. Weathering can be caused by wind, water, ice, plants, gravity, and changes in temperature. To better understand how the erosion and weathering process works….

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!

The Earth’s surface gets broken down through weathering.

a sand blaster is used to simulate erosion

For as long as the Earth has existed, weathering has helped shape the landscape. Weathering wears away rocks and soil.

Water is often the main cause of weathering, either as rain or ice. Rainwater can easily enter cracks in rocks or sidewalks. If this happens during cold months, the water may freeze and expand in the crack. Working as a wedge, the ice splits the rock. Many times, road crews have to patch up potholes caused by weathering from ice.

Wind can also cause weathering. Over long periods of time, wind can wear away rock and carry tiny pieces of the rock to new places. This is can create amazing landscapes, such as rocks that look like mushrooms.

Sometimes living things can cause weathering. Plant roots can wedge their way in between small cracks in rocks. As the plant grows, the roots increase the size of the crack little by little. Eventually, pieces of the rocks break off and get carried away by wind or water.

The Earth’s surface gets broken down through weathering. For as long as the Earth has existed, weathering has helped shape the landscape. Weathering wears away rocks and soil. Water is often the main cause of weathering, either as rain or ice. Rainwater can easily enter cracks in rocks or sidewalks. If this happens during cold months, the water may freeze and expand in the crack. Working as a wedge, the ice splits the rock. Many times, road crews have to patch up potholes caused by weathering from ice. Wind can also cause weathering. Over long periods of time, wind can wear away rock and carry tiny pieces of the rock to new places. This is can create amazing landscapes, such as rocks that look like mushrooms. Sometimes living things can cause weathering. Plant roots can wedge their way in between small cracks in rocks. As the plant grows, the roots increase the size of the crack little by little. Eventually, pieces of the rocks break off and get carried away by wind or water.

Erosion moves pieces of the Earth.

rocks falling by gravity is an example of weathering

As pieces of the Earth are broken down by weathering, they are carried away in a process called erosion.

Water is a common way that pieces of the Earth are moved to a new location. Wind also contributes to erosion by blowing the particles away. Glaciers can pick up pieces of the Earth and drag them to new locations. They are slow but powerful.

Although erosion has helped shape some of the most amazing features on Earth, it can be harmful to the environment. When soil is washed away from one place to another, it can carry harmful materials like chemical, fertilizers, or pesticides. These dangerous chemicals can pollute our water supply.

Erosion moves pieces of the Earth. As pieces of the Earth are broken down by weathering, they are carried away in a process called erosion. Water is a common way that pieces of the Earth are moved to a new location. Wind also contributes to erosion by blowing the particles away. Glaciers can pick up pieces of the Earth and drag them to new locations. They are slow but powerful. Although erosion has helped shape some of the most amazing features on Earth, it can be harmful to the environment. When soil is washed away from one place to another, it can carry harmful materials like chemical, fertilizers, or pesticides. These dangerous chemicals can pollute our water supply.

Deposition is when pieces of the Earth are deposited somewhere else.

glacier seen from the air as it slides down towards the water

It is important to remember that when weathering happens, tiny pieces of the Earth do not disappear. They are moved through erosion, and deposited somewhere else through deposition. It could be very close, only a few feet away, or it can be many miles away such as if the tiny pieces were washed into a river.

The deposited materials can also create new landforms. For example, in Hawaii black sand from eroded lava is deposited on several beaches.

Deposition is when pieces of the Earth are deposited somewhere else. It is important to remember that when weathering happens, tiny pieces of the Earth do not disappear. They are moved through erosion, and deposited somewhere else through deposition. It could be very close, only a few feet away, or it can be many miles away such as if the tiny pieces were washed into a river. The deposited materials can also create new landforms. For example, in Hawaii black sand from eroded lava is deposited on several beaches.

Weathering happens at different rates.

We see the effects of weathering and erosion every day. Splits in roads or sidewalks are caused by the expansion of ice, or the daily heating and cooling of the ground.

Sand on the beach is created from ocean waves pounding on rocks and eventually creating sand.

Sometimes erosion can happen very quickly like with mudslides. Mudslides are caused by moving water and gravity, and happen in only minutes.

Most weathering, however, is a slow process that happens over thousands or millions of years. The speed at which weathering and erosion take place depends on the type of material that is being worn away. Some hard rock, like granite, wears away slowly, while softer rock like limestone, wears away much more quickly.

Weathering happens at different rates. We see the effects of weathering and erosion every day. Splits in roads or sidewalks are caused by the expansion of ice, or the daily heating and cooling of the ground. Sand on the beach is created from ocean waves pounding on rocks and eventually creating sand. Sometimes erosion can happen very quickly like with mudslides. Mudslides are caused by moving water and gravity, and happen in only minutes. Most weathering, however, is a slow process that happens over thousands or millions of years. The speed at which weathering and erosion take place depends on the type of material that is being worn away. Some hard rock, like granite, wears away slowly, while softer rock like limestone, wears away much more quickly.