Year 8 Science · Unit 3 · Lesson 25
Foundation Worksheet
Learning Goals
Match each term to its definition
Draw a line connecting each term on the left to its correct definition on the right. Or write the matching letter next to each term.
| Term | Your answer | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Physical weathering | A. The movement of broken-down rock material from one place to another by water, wind, ice or gravity. | |
| Chemical weathering | B. When a transport agent slows down and drops the sediment it was carrying. | |
| Biological weathering | C. Rock is broken into smaller pieces without any change in its chemical composition, same minerals, just smaller. | |
| Erosion | D. A weak acid formed when CO₂ dissolves in rainwater; dissolves limestone to form caves and sinkholes. | |
| Deposition | E. Rock is broken down by living organisms, lichens, plant roots, or burrowing animals. | |
| Carbonic acid | F. Rock's mineral composition is changed by a chemical reaction, such as iron rusting or limestone dissolving. |
Fill the gap
Choose the correct word from the word bank to complete the passage about how Jenolan Caves formed.
The Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains formed through a process called . Rainwater absorbs carbon dioxide from the air, forming acid. This acid slowly reacts with the limestone rock, dissolving it away, a type of weathering. Over millions of years, underground passages widen as more rock dissolves and water carries it away through . When the dissolved calcium carbonate solution drips into an air space, it re-solidifies through , slowly building stalactites from the ceiling and stalagmites from the floor.
1. A gardener notices that a stone retaining wall has cracks where tree roots have grown through it. What type of weathering is this, and what is happening to the rock?
2. Explain the difference between weathering and erosion. In your answer, say what each process does to rock material.
Wrap Up
In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?