5th Grade Science
Harcourt Science
Unit C

Chapter 1: Lesson 1 - pp. C4 - C11

Erosion, Deposition and Weathering

Erosion - the process that picks up sediment and move it around

Deposition - the process that leaves sediment in a different place

Forces that cause erosion and deposition - water, wind, glaciers, gravity and forces within the Earth such as an earthquake. Erosion and deposition can change landforms or make new ones

Weathering is needed to break down the rock of the Earth’s surface into soil, which is used for growth by most plants.

Four Agents Which Cause Landforms to Change

Wind can blow sand into large mounds called dunes

Ice in the form of glaciers can also change land forms. There are two types of glaciers: Valley glaciers found in high mountains and continental glaciers that are large sheets of ice that cover large areas of the Earth.

Mass movement is the downhill movement of rock and soil because of gravity. Mudslides and landslides are examples of mass movement. Creep is another type of mass movement. Creep is when soil moves slowly downhill because of gravity. A sinkhole is a large hole in the ground which opens up suddenly.

Gravity - pulls soil/ice downhill