In August of 2004, Hurricane Charley removed over six feet of sand from the beach at St. Augustine. Was that an example of erosion, weathering, both, or neither?
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Erosion
Yes! This is an example of erosion. The sand was moved by wind and water.The term "weathering" causes confusion because it sounds like it has something to do with weather. In Earth Science, weathering means "breaking apart." Weathering breaks rocks apart. Erosion carries the pieces of rock to a different location.
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Weathering
No. While this was caused by weather, it is not an example of weathering. Keep in mind that weathering means breaking down rocks into smaller pieces. The sand was not broken into smaller pieces. It was just moved from one place to another (erosion). -
Both erosion and weathering
No. This was erosion, but not weathering. -
Neither erosion nor weathering
No. Since the sand was moved, it was erosion.
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.4.E.6.1 Identify the three categories of rocks: igneous, (formed from molten rock); sedimentary (pieces of other rocks and fossilized organisms); and metamorphic (formed from heat and pressure).
Evaporites | video, learnalong, checked |
Igneous Rocks and Bubbles | video, free, learnalong, Updated |
Sedimentary Rocks | video, learnalong |
What is a Rock? | video, learnalong, checked |
Bioclastics: Rocks With No Minerals | video |
Homemade Fossil Dig | text page |
Foliated and Unfoliated Rocks | text page, learnalong |
Identifying Igneous Rocks | text page, learnalong |
Intrusive and Extrusive Igneous Rocks | text page, learnalong |
Light and Dark Minerals | text page, learnalong |
Review Rocks-2 | practice |
Review Rocks-3 | practice |
Review Rocks-4 | practice |
Review Rocks-5 | practice |
Review Rocks-6 | practice |
Review Rocks-8 | practice |
Review Rocks-9 | practice |
Review Rocks-7 | practice |
Review Rocks-10 | practice |
Review Rocks-10 | practice |
Review Rocks-10 | practice |
Review Rocks-1 | practice |
SC.7.E.6.2 Identify the patterns within the rock cycle and relate them to surface events (weathering and erosion) and sub-surface events (plate tectonics and mountain building).
Evaporites | video, learnalong, checked |
What is a Rock? | video, learnalong, checked |
The Rock Cycle | video, learnalong |
Change: Fast and Slow | video |
Erosion | video, checked |
Continuous Change | video, checked |
Bioclastics: Rocks With No Minerals | video |
Weathering and Erosion | video, learnalong, checked |
Review Rocks-4 | practice |
Review Rocks-5 | practice |
Review Rocks-6 | practice |
Review Rocks-8 | practice |
Review Rocks-9 | practice |
Review Rocks-7 | practice |
Review Rocks-10 | practice |
Review Rocks-10 | practice |
Review Rocks-1 | practice |
Review Erosion-1 | practice |
Review Erosion-2 | practice |
Review Erosion-3 | practice |
Review Erosion-4 | practice |
Review Erosion-5 | practice |
Utah
UT.4.III.2.b Distinguish between weathering (i.e., wearing down and breaking of rock surfaces) and erosion (i.e., the movement of materials).
Change: Fast and Slow | video |
Erosion | video, checked |
Weathering and Erosion | video, learnalong, checked |
Review Erosion-1 | practice |
Review Erosion-2 | practice |
Review Erosion-3 | practice |
Review Erosion-4 | practice |
Review Erosion-5 | practice |
UT.5.II.1.a Identify the objects, processes, or forces that weather and erode Earth’s surface (e.g., ice, plants, animals, abrasion, gravity, water, wind)
Change: Fast and Slow | video |
Erosion | video, checked |
Continuous Change | video, checked |
Weathering and Erosion | video, learnalong, checked |
Review Erosion-1 | practice |
Review Erosion-2 | practice |
Review Erosion-3 | practice |
Review Erosion-4 | practice |
Review Erosion-5 | practice |
UT.8.III.2.b Describe the role of energy in the processes that change rock materials over time.
Igneous Rocks and Bubbles | video, free, learnalong, Updated |
Sedimentary Rocks | video, learnalong |
Change: Fast and Slow | video |
Erosion | video, checked |
Continuous Change | video, checked |
Weathering and Erosion | video, learnalong, checked |
NGSS
4-ESS2-1 Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation.
Change: Fast and Slow | video |
Erosion | video, checked |
Continuous Change | video, checked |
Weathering and Erosion | video, learnalong, checked |
Review Erosion-1 | practice |
Review Erosion-2 | practice |
Review Erosion-3 | practice |
Review Erosion-4 | practice |
Review Erosion-5 | practice |