Module 8: Weathering, Erosion, and Groundwater

Have you ever stopped to think what the Earth looked like a million years ago? What do you think the land looked like before all of the houses and businesses were built? The Earth and its surface are constantly changing and moving. While you may not notice differences over the span of decades, or even centuries, it changes in response to forces present at the Earth’s surface. Forces like wind, rain, gravity, and even sunshine work to break rocks, move rocks, and deposit rock material in new locations. Freshwater, which flows over and underneath Earth’s surface, is responsible for a significant amount of the change and has special interest because of its value to humans. In this module, you will investigate the different geologic and hydrologic processes at work at the Earth’s surface and determine how they impact the environment and landforms.

Getting Started

Before you learn about weathering, erosion, and deposition, check to see how much you already know about the processes that shape the surface of the Earth. In this non-graded activity, read each question, and then select the appropriate answer. Click the player button to get started.

Key Vocabulary

To view the definitions for these key vocabulary terms, visit the course glossary.