weathering and erosion examples Grade 3 science

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🌍 Weathering: Weathering is the breaking down of rocks, soil, and minerals through contact with the Earth's atmosphere, water, and biological organisms. Think of it like the Earth getting a little makeover!
• 💧 Erosion: Erosion is the process by which soil and rock are removed from one location and transported to another by wind, water, ice, or gravity. Imagine a river carrying tiny bits of rock downstream.
• 🧊 Types of Weathering:
  • 🧱 Physical Weathering: Breaking rocks apart without changing their chemical composition. Example: Water freezing in cracks and splitting the rock.
  • 🧪 Chemical Weathering: Changing the chemical composition of rocks. Example: Acid rain dissolving limestone.
• ⛰️ Examples of Erosion:
  • 🌊 Water Erosion: Rivers carving canyons, waves shaping coastlines.
  • 💨 Wind Erosion: Wind blowing away soil in deserts.
  • 🧊 Ice Erosion: Glaciers grinding down mountains.
• 💡 Key Difference: Weathering breaks things *down*, erosion moves them *away*.

Practice Quiz

1. What is weathering?
   1. A) Moving rocks from one place to another
   2. B) Breaking down rocks into smaller pieces
   3. C) Building mountains
   4. D) Planting trees
2. Which of the following is an example of erosion?
   1. A) A rock cracking in the sun
   2. B) A river carrying sand to the ocean
   3. C) Rainwater dissolving a rock
   4. D) A tree root breaking apart a sidewalk
3. What force is responsible for creating the Grand Canyon?
   1. A) Wind
   2. B) Ice
   3. C) Water
   4. D) Gravity
4. Freezing water can break rocks apart. What type of weathering is this?
   1. A) Chemical weathering
   2. B) Physical weathering
   3. C) Biological weathering
   4. D) All of the above
5. Acid rain dissolving limestone is an example of:
   1. A) Physical weathering
   2. B) Chemical weathering
   3. C) Erosion
   4. D) Deposition
6. Which of the following can cause erosion?
   1. A) Wind
   2. B) Water
   3. C) Ice
   4. D) All of the above
7. What is the main difference between weathering and erosion?
   1. A) Weathering moves rocks, erosion breaks them down
   2. B) Weathering breaks rocks down, erosion moves them
   3. C) Weathering only happens in the desert
   4. D) Erosion only happens near water