Weathering

Weathering:

Rocks can be broken down over time by

exposure to natural chemicals, freezing, thawing, falling and
breaking, wind, and water. As they break down their pieces
get smaller and smaller.

Weathering
Weathering:
moved by glaciers.

Rocks can be broken apart by ice or

Weathering
Weathering:

Rocks in rivers or oceans can be worn

smooth by the current, tide, or waves.

Weathering
Weathering:

Over time rocks can be worn down

to boulders, talus, gravel, and eventually grains of
sand, silt, or clay.

Weathering
Weathering:

Sand, silt, and clay differ in size of the

average particle.

Gravel

Sand

Weathering
If you were to look at each under a microscope, you would
see that sand grains were larger, silt grains are smaller, and
that clay is the finest of all.

Sand

Silt

Clay

Weathering
Some soils are sandy, others are silty, and still
others have lots of clay.

Cornell Notes:
Weathering
Earth Science
Brentwood Middle School
6th Grade
Mr. Fearns Class

Topic/Objective: Weathering
Essential Question: How do
rocks break down over time?

Weathering
Rocks can be broken down over time by:
natural chemicals
freezing
thawing
falling & breaking
wind
water
As rocks break down, pieces get smaller &
smaller

Rocks can be broken apart by ice

or moved by glaciers (ice sheets)
or worn smooth by water
(rivers, tides, currents)

Over time rocks wear down to:

boulders
talus
gravel
sand
silt
clay

Sand grains = largest

Silt grains = small
Clay grains = smallest (microscopic)
Sand

Silt

Clay

Summary:
Weathering is the process of
rocks breaking down over time.
Natural forces, such as wind,
water, and ice break large
rocks into smaller rocks. Small
grained particles, such as sand,
silt, and clay, come from