Erosion, the movement of rocks which have been worn down by weathering, is one part of Geography which GCSE students need to understand. This quiz will test their knowledge of coastal, river, glacial and other forms of erosion.
Erosion is the way that rocks and soil are worn away by wind, water, ice and other methods. Our entire planet is carved and shaped by this process. Erosion carves gorges and valleys and leaves behind the landscapes that we recognise. Everything from the Lake District to the Somerset Levels, and the land that London is built on through to the Yorkshire Dales - all are shaped by the processes of erosion.
The movement of water is the major component of erosion. Rain will move soil and rocks that have been worn down by weathering, and carry them down the drainage basin into streams and eventually into the rivers. The rivers carry them even further before they are either deposited on flood plains or carried into the sea where they are moved again to form something else. Waves from the sea attack the cliffs that their erosion has formed, leaving coastal features such as stacks and caves.
[readmore]
It's not just liquid water that causes erosion though. Frozen water in the form of glaciers also changes the landscape. The movement of these glaciers plucks huge chunks out of rocks and scrapes soil ahead of them. These alien bits of geology are then dumped as the glaciers retreat. Wind also changes things. It scours landscapes, building up huge dunes on beaches and in deserts. Some dunes can reach heights of over 400m. The erosion can carve features like Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Australia. This is the remnants of a mountain range that has been almost completely erased.
Looking at how this material, worn down by weathering, is moved around by erosion is key to understanding so many processes, such as hydroelectric systems, how to protect buildings, how to protect beaches and so protect the settlements inland, and how to save people’s lives from flooding, landslides and sudden geological actions. In this quiz we will examine the action of rivers, coastal processes and ice on rocks and soils.
[/readmore]
1.
|
Weathering and erosion are a key part of the rock cycle. Which class of rocks are formed after weathering and erosion have attacked other rocks? |
|
[ ] |
Sedimentary |
[ ] |
Igneous |
[ ] |
Metamorphic |
[ ] |
Oolitic |
|
|
2.
|
Rivers are one of the most powerful forces of erosion on land. What are the four main types of river erosion? |
|
[ ] |
Hydraulic, attrition, traction and saltation |
[ ] |
Solution, suspension, saltation and traction |
[ ] |
Hydraulic, abrasion, attrition and solution |
[ ] |
Solution, suspension, attrition and abrasion |
|
|
3.
|
Which are the four main types of river transportation of eroded material? |
|
[ ] |
Hydraulic, abrasion, attrition and solution |
[ ] |
Hydraulic, attrition, traction and saltation |
[ ] |
Solution, suspension, attrition and abrasion |
[ ] |
Solution, suspension, saltation and traction |
|
|
4.
|
When river velocity slows the larger particles fall out of suspension. Which of these examples shows when velocity may drop leading to silting up of a part of the river? |
|
[ ] |
The outside of a meander bend |
[ ] |
Where a narrow river channel enters an open lake |
[ ] |
When water runs over rapids |
[ ] |
The entrance to an artificially straightened channel |
|
|
5.
|
What type of coastal wave causes erosion? |
|
[ ] |
Constructive |
[ ] |
Destructive |
[ ] |
Swash |
[ ] |
Backwash |
|
|
6.
|
South Stack in Anglesey is an example of a stack - a type of coastal erosional landform. What was this landform before it was eroded to form a stack? |
|
[ ] |
A stump |
[ ] |
An arch |
[ ] |
A cave |
[ ] |
A wave cut platform |
|
|
7.
|
Glaciers carve out landforms as they move across the landscape. What is the valley shape that is commonly cut by a glacier? |
|
[ ] |
U-shaped |
[ ] |
V-shaped |
[ ] |
Truncated |
[ ] |
Braided |
|
|
8.
|
Some rocks show that a glacier has eroded them by scratch marks across their faces. What are these scratches known as? |
|
[ ] |
Pluck marks |
[ ] |
Striations |
[ ] |
Abrasions |
[ ] |
Névé |
|
|
9.
|
Which of the following is not a way that climate change will increase erosion? |
|
[ ] |
Due to warmer conditions trees and other plants may be able to grow further north |
[ ] |
Rising sea levels will allow waves to attack new areas of beaches and cliffs |
[ ] |
Increased rainfall will lead to greater erosion by rivers |
[ ] |
More extreme weather conditions, such as hurricanes, will lead to greater force of waves and wind on the coastal areas |
|
|
10.
|
Which of the following is not a method by which deforestation increases erosion? |
|
[ ] |
Trees and forests may encourage large scale tourism |
[ ] |
Trees no longer take up water, increasing run off and through flow |
[ ] |
Trees are no longer able to stabilise river banks leading to uncontrolled meandering |
[ ] |
Tree roots no longer stabilise and protect the soil, leading it to be washed away |
|
|
1.
|
Weathering and erosion are a key part of the rock cycle. Which class of rocks are formed after weathering and erosion have attacked other rocks? |
|
[x] |
Sedimentary |
[ ] |
Igneous |
[ ] |
Metamorphic |
[ ] |
Oolitic |
|
|
2.
|
Rivers are one of the most powerful forces of erosion on land. What are the four main types of river erosion? |
|
[ ] |
Hydraulic, attrition, traction and saltation |
[ ] |
Solution, suspension, saltation and traction |
[x] |
Hydraulic, abrasion, attrition and solution |
[ ] |
Solution, suspension, attrition and abrasion |
|
|
3.
|
Which are the four main types of river transportation of eroded material? |
|
[ ] |
Hydraulic, abrasion, attrition and solution |
[ ] |
Hydraulic, attrition, traction and saltation |
[ ] |
Solution, suspension, attrition and abrasion |
[x] |
Solution, suspension, saltation and traction |
|
|
4.
|
When river velocity slows the larger particles fall out of suspension. Which of these examples shows when velocity may drop leading to silting up of a part of the river? |
|
[ ] |
The outside of a meander bend |
[x] |
Where a narrow river channel enters an open lake |
[ ] |
When water runs over rapids |
[ ] |
The entrance to an artificially straightened channel |
|
|
5.
|
What type of coastal wave causes erosion? |
|
[ ] |
Constructive |
[x] |
Destructive |
[ ] |
Swash |
[ ] |
Backwash |
|
|
6.
|
South Stack in Anglesey is an example of a stack - a type of coastal erosional landform. What was this landform before it was eroded to form a stack? |
|
[ ] |
A stump |
[x] |
An arch |
[ ] |
A cave |
[ ] |
A wave cut platform |
|
|
7.
|
Glaciers carve out landforms as they move across the landscape. What is the valley shape that is commonly cut by a glacier? |
|
[x] |
U-shaped |
[ ] |
V-shaped |
[ ] |
Truncated |
[ ] |
Braided |
|
|
8.
|
Some rocks show that a glacier has eroded them by scratch marks across their faces. What are these scratches known as? |
|
[ ] |
Pluck marks |
[x] |
Striations |
[ ] |
Abrasions |
[ ] |
Névé |
|
|
9.
|
Which of the following is not a way that climate change will increase erosion? |
|
[x] |
Due to warmer conditions trees and other plants may be able to grow further north |
[ ] |
Rising sea levels will allow waves to attack new areas of beaches and cliffs |
[ ] |
Increased rainfall will lead to greater erosion by rivers |
[ ] |
More extreme weather conditions, such as hurricanes, will lead to greater force of waves and wind on the coastal areas |
|
|
10.
|
Which of the following is not a method by which deforestation increases erosion? |
|
[x] |
Trees and forests may encourage large scale tourism |
[ ] |
Trees no longer take up water, increasing run off and through flow |
[ ] |
Trees are no longer able to stabilise river banks leading to uncontrolled meandering |
[ ] |
Tree roots no longer stabilise and protect the soil, leading it to be washed away |
|
|