The wearing down or breaking of rocks while they are in place. Weathering can be biological, chemical or physical.

An increase in volume which happens when most solids get hotter, but also when water freezes to form ice.

A physical weathering process whereby water seeps into cracks, freezes and expands. This gradually wedges open cracks until the rock breaks.

The breakdown and removal of rock material by flowing water, wind, or moving ice.

Physical weathering and erosion

Science

In the Atmosphere and Changing Climate unit, pupils will build on their understanding of the carbon cycle and climate change to explore the evidence for the composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere, and the effects and mitigation of increased levels of carbon dioxide and methane.

In the Earth's Resources unit, pupils learned about the composition of rock, the interior of the Earth, and how igneous and metamorphic rocks are made by heating.

Carbon cycle and climate change

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

Does not move fragments of rock to another location.

Fragments of rock are moved naturally to new locations.

Match the keywords to the correct statement.

What type of rock does weathering and erosion help to form?

This creates tension which causes the crack to widen.

Ice thaws allowing more water to enter the widened crack.

The process repeats until cracks are forced open and fragments fall away.

Place the statements about the freeze-thaw weathering process in order, starting with water getting into the rock.

Liquid water molecules have more kinetic energy than frozen water.

Repulsive forces force the water molecules apart.

The density of liquid water is less than frozen water.

The density of frozen water is less than liquid water.

Which statement explains why frozen water floats?

Growth of roots into cracks in the rocks.

Acid rain reacting with limestone in statues.

Tidal waves moving loose material away from cliffs.

Wind blowing sand from the cliffs inland.

Which of the following are examples of erosion occurring?

Because water in the atmosphere reacts with carbon dioxide.

Because rainwater reacts with sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere.

Because there is a lot of nitrogen in the atmosphere and rain reacts with it.

Why is rainwater naturally slightly acidic?

Choose the correct chemical symbol for the element carbon.

When something undergoes expansion, this means its volume {{}}.

contain crystals that point in many directions

contain large crystals that are often in bands

may contain fragments of shells, fossils or grit cemented together

Match the type of rock to its description.

A mineral is a pure solid substance which occurs naturally.

A mineral is an impure solid which occurs in nature.

Rocks often contain a mixture of minerals. What is a mineral?

Which keyword describes a rock with spaces between the grains?

The rate of change from a liquid to a solid state.

The rate of change from a solid to a liquid state.

The rate of change from a liquid to a gaseous state.

The rate of change from a gaseous state to a liquid state.

What is the main factor in determining crystal size in rocks?

Content guidance

Risk assessment required - equipment

Adult supervision required

Starter Quiz