Moving the Earth: Erosion Deposition Quiz

If weathering breaks rock into smaller pieces but leaves them where they are, then movement has not occurred; if those pieces are then carried away by wind or water, then erosion is taking place.

If tree roots grow deep into the ground, then they act like a net that anchors soil particles; if the soil is anchored, then it is much harder for wind or water to move it away.

If a river flows rapidly down a mountain, then it cuts primarily into the bottom of its channel; if the sides then slump in due to weathering and gravity, then a V-shape is created.

If an agent like water or wind loses energy, then it can no longer carry heavy particles; if it cannot carry them, then it must drop them, which is the definition of deposition.

If wind blows against a dune, then it carries grains up the gentle windward side; if the grains reach the top and fall down the steep slip-face, then the entire structure shifts forward.

If a glacier acts like a bulldozer, then it pushes rocks and dirt to its edges; if the glacier melts and leaves that pile of debris behind, then the resulting ridge is called a moraine.

If rocks roll and bounce along a riverbed, then they constantly hit other rocks; if they hit other rocks, then the sharp edges break off, making them smaller and smoother over time.

If plants cover the ground, then their roots hold soil and leaves block wind; if the area is dry (arid), then soil is loose and easily blown; thus, wind erosion is least effective in humid, green areas.

If waves constantly crash against coastal rocks, then they wear away the weaker parts; if the rock is worn away into arches or pillars, then the process is erosion, not deposition.

If a glacier moves through a mountain valley, then its massive weight and ice scrape the bottom and sides equally; if the sides are scraped wide and deep, then a U-shape is formed.

If a river reaches a lake or ocean, then its speed drops suddenly; if the speed drops, then sediment settles at the mouth, forming a triangular landform called a delta.

If water flows through a flat plain, then it erodes the outer banks and deposits on the inner banks; if this pattern continues, then the river develops large, snake-like curves called meanders.

If gravity is the only force pulling soil and rock down a slope, then the event is a mass movement; if it involves a large volume of material, then it is known as mass wasting.

If a fast stream leaves a narrow mountain canyon and enters a flat plain, then it spreads out and slows down; if it slows down, it deposits sediment in a fan shape called an alluvial fan.

If soil freezes and thaws repeatedly, then it moves downhill by tiny fractions of an inch; if this happens over many years, then structures like fences slowly tilt, identifying the process as creep.

If acidic groundwater dissolves limestone bedrock, then underground caverns form; if the roof of a cavern collapses, then a hole appears at the surface known as a sinkhole.

If sediment is carried by a moving force, then it acts like sandpaper against other rocks; if those rocks are worn down by this physical contact, then the process is called abrasion.

If wind carries fine particles of silt over long distances and drops them in thick layers, then that deposit is called loess; since wind is the agent, the statement attributing it to glaciers is false.

If a slope is steep, gravity is stronger; if plants are missing, roots can't hold soil; if rain is heavy, it washes more dirt away; therefore, all these factors increase erosion.

If minerals drip in caves, glaciers drop till, or waves pile up sand, then new structures are being built; since all these involve dropping material, they are all depositional features.