Changing Earth’s Surface​ ​Study Guide 

*TEST ON FRIDAY, MARCH 15* 

Weathering 
Define: __________________________________________________________________ 
 
Name forces that can cause weathering:  
 
_______________________ & _______________________ 
 
_______________________ & _______________________ 
 
Erosion 
Define: ___________________________________________________________________ 
 
Problem: The Red River erosion rate is 12 cm in 1,000 years. How long would it take to erode 96 cm of soil 
in the Red River valley between Oklahoma and Texas? 
 
____________________________________________________________________________ 
 
Two main forces of erosion: _______________________ & _______________________ 
 
Grasses, trees, and other plants help to (​slow down / speed up)​ erosion by holding soil particles together. 
(circle one) 
 
How would the slope (steepness) of a hill or mountain affect the rate of erosion (how fast the hill erodes)? 
 
____________________________________________________________________________ 
 
The Hawaiian Islands are being formed by _________________________________________ 
 
New mountains can be formed by colliding ____________________ ___________________ 
 
Earth 
What evidence could help scientists determine the age of the Earth? 
 
_____________________________ ____________________________ _________________ 
 
If a canyon wall has undisturbed layers (not bent), which layer would be the youngest? Explain. 
 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
What does this graph say about glacial erosion and sediment deposition? 
 
___________________________________________________ 
 
___________________________________________________ 
 
 
Create a rock cycle diagram  (include labels and arrows): 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rocks 
Rocks are made of one or more __________________________________. 
Example: Granite (rock) = quartz and feldspar (minerals) 
 
Soil 
What is the difference between soil and dirt, if any? __________________________________ 
Why is soil important? What helps form new soil?  
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________