Name _____________________________________________ Date __________________________________
Erosion
Erosion is the process that moves sediments such as rocks and soil downhill or into streams, rivers, or oceans.
It then transports them to new places where deposition occurs. Deposition is when bits of rocks and soil, or
sediment, that was worn away and moved are deposited in a different location. Water is responsible for most
erosion. Water carries away sediments that have been weathered and broken apart. When the land gets more
water than it can absorb from rain, melting snow, or ice, the excess water flows downward to the lowest level it
can reach, carrying loose sediment with it.
Directions: Fill in the line to complete each statement.
Roots
Glacial
Runoff
Melts
Deposition
Soil
Sand
1. After a rainfall, the water that moves over Earth’s surface is called ____________________. The process
by which erosion lays down sediment in new locations is called ____________________.
2. ____________________ erodes more than ____________________ because it is holey, or permeable, and
does not absorb water as well.
3. A glacier forms in an area where more snow falls than ____________________.
4. ____________________ are the part of the vegetation that helps holds soil together.
5. ____________________ erosion is likely to occur in Alaska than in Georgia.
Direction: Circle the best answer to the questions below.
6. Florida is known for its orange groves. What would an orange grove farmer be most concerned about?
a. How to weather the rocks on the surface of the soil of her crops.
b. Keeping the soil over her crops in place.
c. Ways of making the soil less productive.
d. Setting up a dam to pump water.
7. What is the force that pulls rocks and soil down slopes?
a. Kinetic energy
b. Wind energy
c. Potential energy
d. Gravity
8. The major agent of erosion that has shaped Earth’s land surface is _________________.
a. pesticides and insect repellents used by farmers
b. glaciers
c. moving water
d. tree roots that has caused ground uprising
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Directions: If the statement is true, write true. If it is false, change the underlined word or words to make the
statement true.
9. __________________ The material moved by erosion is called sediment.
10. __________________ Grass would most likely speed up the rate of erosion.
11. __________________ The energy of ocean waves comes from the energy of deposition.
12. __________________ The process by which natural forces move weathered rock from place to place is
__________________ erosion.
13. __________________ Glaciers cause erosion by quickly moving across rocks leaving smooth and jagged
rocks behind.
14. __________________ Higher slopes decrease the rate of erosion.
15. __________________ Wind causes erosion by blowing heavier rocks and leaving behind sand and soil.
__________________
16. __________________ A waterfall would not cause a great deal of erosion.
17. __________________ The excess water on land that cannot be absorbed flows downward to the lowest
point below.
Directions: Answer the questions in complete sentences.
19. How does gravity cause erosion?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
20. How is weathering different from erosion?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
21. Describe how a gust of wind would move small particles, medium sized particles and larger particles.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
22. Water is moving downstream in this river. What area of the river do you think experiences the most erosion
A or B?
________________________________________________
B.
________________________________________________
A.
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
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Name _____________________________________________ Date __________________________________
CHALLENGE YOURSELF!
RIVER WILD
Directions: Examine the diagram and label each river 1, 2 or 3 according to the effects of erosion. Number 1 is
the diagram of a youth river, 2 maturity river, or 3 old age river. Then in the boxes below, write a descriptive
word or words about the rivers that helped you to draw your conclusion.
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/science/lep_science/earth_science/wwwlinks/worksheet8.shtml
_____________
______________
______________
1. Which of the three river stages—youth, maturity, or old age—do you think deposits the most sediment?
Why?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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