Year 9 - Science
Physical weathering and erosion
Carbon cycle and climate change
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores the rock cycle and the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. It also examines the atmosphere's composition, human-induced carbon dioxide production, and its impact on climate. Focus is on interpreting data, identifying patterns, and presenting explanations.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the difference between physical weathering and erosion of rock and provide examples of each.
Key Notes
- Weathering is the slow breakdown of rocks on Earth's surface. It happens while the rocks are 'in place'.
- Erosion is the process that removes material from where bedrock has been broken down or weathered.
- Rock can be weathered biologically, chemically or physically.
- Rock can be eroded by the wind, rain, or by flowing streams and rivers, oceans, ice flows or gravity.
- Small changes caused by weathering and erosion can have large impacts over time.
Vocabulary To Learn
- weathering: The wearing down or breaking of rocks while they are in place. Weathering can be biological, chemical or physical.
- expansion: An increase in volume which happens when most solids get hotter, but also when water freezes to form ice.
- freeze-thaw: A physical weathering process whereby water seeps into cracks, freezes and expands. This gradually wedges open cracks until the rock breaks.
- erosion: The breakdown and removal of rock material by flowing water, wind, or moving ice.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils equate 'weathering' as the breakdown of rock caused only by the 'weather'. They also tend to use 'weathering' and 'erosion' interchangeably.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Weathering is the slow breakdown of rocks on Earth's surface. It happens while the rocks are 'in place'. Erosion is the process that removes material from where bedrock has been broken down or weathered.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'weathering'
The wearing down or breaking of rocks while they are in place. Weathering can be biological, chemical or physical. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils equate 'weathering' as the breakdown of rock caused only by the 'weather'. They also tend to use 'weathering' and 'erosion' interchangeably. Correction: Provide many opportunities for pupils to identify weathering from erosion or classify examples of weathering or erosion.
More Lessons In This Unit
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