Forces That Change Landforms: An Introduction to Physical Geology for Grade Children

The Earth's surface is constantly changing. Mountains rise and fall, rivers flow, and glaciers carve out valleys. These changes are all caused by forces that act on the Earth's surface. In this article, we will discuss the different forces that change landforms.

Erosion is the process by which the Earth's surface is worn away by water, wind, ice, and gravity. Water erosion is the most common type of erosion. It occurs when water flows over the land and picks up sediment. The sediment is then carried away by the water and deposited elsewhere.

Wind erosion occurs when wind picks up sediment and carries it away. Wind erosion is most common in dry areas where there is little vegetation to hold the soil in place.

The Earth Looks Different : Forces that Change Landforms | Introduction to Physical Geology Grade 3 | Children's Earth Sciences Books

by Claudia Milian

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	42698 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	72 pages

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Ice erosion occurs when glaciers move over the land and scrape away the surface. Ice erosion is most common in mountainous areas where glaciers are present.

Gravity erosion occurs when sediment is moved downslope by gravity. Gravity erosion is most common on steep slopes.

Weathering is the process by which the Earth's surface is broken down by the action of water, air, and temperature changes. Water weathering occurs when water seeps into cracks in rocks and freezes. The freezing water expands and breaks the rocks apart.

Air weathering occurs when oxygen and other gases in the air react with rocks. This reaction can cause rocks to crumble or dissolve.

Temperature weathering occurs when rocks are heated and cooled by the sun. The heating and cooling can cause rocks to expand and contract, which can break them apart.

Deposition is the process by which sediment is deposited on the Earth's surface. Sediment is deposited when water, wind, ice, or gravity slows down and drops the sediment it is carrying.

Water deposition occurs when water slows down and drops the sediment it is carrying. This can happen when a river reaches a lake or the ocean, or when a glacier melts.

Wind deposition occurs when wind slows down and drops the sediment it is carrying. This can happen when the wind reaches a mountain or a forest.

Ice deposition occurs when glaciers melt and drop the sediment they are carrying. This can happen when a glacier reaches a valley or the ocean.

Gravity deposition occurs when sediment is moved downslope by gravity. This can happen when a landslide occurs or when sediment is deposited on a beach.

Erosion, weathering, and deposition can create a variety of landforms. Some of the most common landforms created by erosion include:

• Mountains
• Valleys
• Canyons
• Cliffs
• Beaches

Some of the most common landforms created by weathering include:

• Soil
• Sand
• Gravel
• Clay
• Rocks

Some of the most common landforms created by deposition include:

• Deltas
• Sand dunes
• Moraines
• Alluvial fans
• Beaches

The Earth's surface is constantly changing. These changes are caused by forces that act on the surface, such as erosion, weathering, and deposition. These forces can create a variety of landforms, such as mountains, valleys, canyons, and beaches.

Additional Information

In addition to the forces discussed in this article, there are a number of other factors that can change landforms. These factors include:

• Plate tectonics: The movement of the Earth's tectonic plates can cause mountains to rise and fall, and can also create new landforms, such as volcanoes and islands.
• Human activity: Humans can also change landforms through activities such as mining, farming, and construction.

The rate at which landforms change can vary depending on a number of factors, including the type of force that is acting on the landform, the climate, and the type of rock that the landform is made of.

The Earth Looks Different : Forces that Change Landforms | Introduction to Physical Geology Grade 3 | Children's Earth Sciences Books

by Claudia Milian

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	42698 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	72 pages

FREE