Weathering and erosion of rocks | Science | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Which of these are types of weather?
- rain ✓
- sun ✓
- umbrella
- forecast
- wind ✓
Which of these materials would be most suitable to make a bench?
- tissue paper
- frosted glass
- granite rock ✓
- corrugated cardboard
Read these descriptions. Which best describes the rock called chalk?
- I am hard, impermeable and good for writing with.
- I am flexible, permeable and good for building houses.
- I am rigid, crumbly and good for making statues.
- I am soft, permeable and athletes use me to help them grip. ✓
- I am soft, permeable and useful for making ornaments.
Look at these results. Which of the questions below would you be able to answer if these were your results?
- Which is the most attractive rock?
- Which rock is permeable?
- Which is the hardest rock? ✓
- Where do rocks come from?
- Which rocks scratch easily? ✓
When put in water, chalk and sandstone produced bubbles but marble and slate did not. Match the rocks to their permeability.
- chalk and sandstone
  
  ⇔
  
  permeable ✓
- marble and slate
  
  ⇔
  
  impermeable ✓
Look at this slate in a glass of water. It is a test for permeability. What does it show you about the permeability of slate?
- Slate is permeable.
- It doesn't show you anything. You can't tell anything by looking at it.
- Slate is impermeable. ✓

Exit quiz

The breaking down of rocks on Earth’s surface, over time, is called ______.
- 'weathering' ✓
______ is when land is worn away by natural forces and transported to another location.
- 'Erosion' ✓
Which of these are natural forces that cause weathering?
- rain ✓
- electricity
- wind ✓
- heat ✓
- running
Match the example to the name of the process.
- a sandbank has formed in a river
  
  ⇔
  
  erosion ✓
- a pavement is cracked by a weed
  
  ⇔
  
  weathering ✓
Weathering and erosion of rock can cause ...
- habitat loss. ✓
- natural forces.
- temperature changes.
- natural disasters. ✓
______ and other scientists help to eliminate the negative impact of weathering and erosion.
- 'Geologists' ✓

Worksheet

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Weathering is the breaking down of rocks on Earth’s surface, over time, by natural forces.
Erosion is when land is worn away by natural forces, such as water or wind, and transported to another location.
Weathering and erosion of rock can cause habitat loss and natural disasters.
Different types of scientists, including geologists, work to eliminate the negative effects of weathering and erosion.

Common misconception

Children use the word weathering and erosion interchangeably to mean the same thing.

Explain the difference between these two processes, that are closely linked, through clear definitions, images and examples of where they are happening.

Keywords

Weathering - Weathering is a natural process that slowly breaks apart or changes rock. Heat, water, wind, living things, and other natural forces cause weathering.
Natural forces - Wind, rain, heat and cold are natural forces.
Erosion - Erosion is when bits of rock and earth are carried away from their original location, by natural forces like wind and rain.
Transportation - When objects are moved from one place to another, it is called transportation.
Geologist - A geologist is a scientist who studies what the earth is made of.