Earth's surface is always changing — usually so slowly we cannot see it happening. Today we find out how rocks get broken down. 🪨
Step 1: Weathering is when rock is broken into smaller pieces where it is. There are three types.
Today we will meet all three: mechanical, chemical and biological.
Step 2: Mechanical weathering physically breaks the rock — without changing what it is made of.
The best example is freeze and thaw: water gets into a crack, freezes, and pushes the crack wider. Over and over, until the rock splits.
Step 3: Two more types of weathering.
🧪 Chemical weathering
A chemical reaction breaks the rock down — like acid rain slowly dissolving limestone.
🌱 Biological weathering
Living things break the rock — like tree roots cracking a path, or people mining.
Your turn to be a weathering detective! 🔎
- Do the vocabulary match-up in your group.
- Go on the weathering hunt around school and find examples.
- Complete the Weathering Detectives worksheet.
Remember: mechanical = broken by force; chemical = broken by a reaction; biological = broken by living things.