Bill Nye – Erosion
1. Rocks are ______and every rock on the Earth’s surface will be ______
tomorrow from the way it is today because they are ______.
2. The agents of erosion include: (1) ______(2) ______
(3) ______(4) ______
(5) ______(6) ______
3. The process of erosion is constantly ______mountains, flattening ______,
______valleys, and deepening ______. The process of
______never ______.
4. Water erodes rock ______. Water dissolves and ______away certain
______found in rock. As a result, the rock ______very slowly. When
water freezes, it ______. When water flows into ______in rock and freezes,
it expands and causes the rock to ______apart. This is a cause of ______.
5. Wind and ______can combine to erode ______. As the wind
blows, it picks up tiny grains of ______which act like ______. Every
______of sand carries away a little bit of mountain. The mountains are ______
because they are ______.
6. Rain falling to the earth can erode precious ______. Vegetation and hard ______
protect the topsoil from being ______away. Rainwater and ______in the
air combine to ______or rust the iron found in rocks and/or man made structures. This
is an example of ______erosion. Oxidation or rusting can slowly ______
rocks (example: iron turns to iron oxide)
7. Erosion is a process that never ______; it is ______. Ocean ______
constantly pound away at rock on the shores, creating ______and turn rocks
into ______. Waves make sharp, jagged rocks ______and ______.
8. Sometimes plant seeds find their way into ______in ______and begin to grow. As
they grow, their roots systems work their way deep into the rock’s crack and can ______the
rock. Another living organism that is capable of eroding rock are ______. Plants growing
in the cracks of rock and the effect of organisms such as lichen are another agent of erosion known
as ______erosion. Erosion is a ______process.
Bill Nye – Erosion (ANSWERS)
1. Rocks are solid and every rock on the Earth’s surface will be different tomorrow from the way it is today because they are eroding.
2. The agents of erosion include:
Running water & standing water (freezing and thawing)
Wind (with sand)
Sand (in water)
Ice and glaciers
Chemical (oxidation)
Biological (lichen, plant/tree roots)
3. The process of erosion is constantly crumbling mountains, flattening hills, widening valleys, and deepening canyons. The process of erosion never stops.
4. Water erodes rock slowly. Water dissolves and carries away certainminerals found in rock. As a result, the rockchangesvery slowly. Whenwater freezes, it expands. When water flows into cracksin rock and freezes,it expands and causes the rock to split apart. This is a cause of erosion.
5. Wind and sandcan combine to erode mountains. As the wind blows, it picks up tiny grains of sand which act likesand paper. Every particleof sand carries away a little bit of mountain. The mountains are changed because they are eroded.
6. Rain falling to the earth can erode precious topsoil. Vegetation and hard rockprotect the topsoil from being washed away. Rainwater and oxygenin theair combine to oxidize or rust the iron found in rocks and/or man-made structures. Thisis an example of chemical erosion. Oxidation or rusting can slowly changerocks (example: iron turns to iron oxide).
7. Erosion is a process that never stops; it is relentless. Ocean wavesconstantly pound away at rock on the shores, creating sea stacks and turn rocks into sand. Waves make sharp, jagged rocks smoothand round.
8. Sometimes plant seeds find their way into cracksin rocks and begin to grow. Asthey grow, their roots systems work their way deep into the rock’s crack and can splittherock. Another living organism that is capable of eroding rock are lichen. Plants growingin the cracks of rock and the effect of organisms such as lichen are another agent of erosion known as biological erosion. Erosion is a never endingprocess.