ABSTRACT
This chapter teaches students about rocks, weathering and erosion, soil, and how erosion can be prevented. Weathering and erosion work together to break down rock and create soil, but the categories of processes have distinct differences. Weathering occurs through two processes that often work together to decompose rocks that are called mechanical and chemical weathering. One example of mechanical weathering is repeated thawing and freezing. For example, when the weather is warm, water seeps into the cracks in rocks. When wind blows, it can blow sand, soil, and rocks against larger rocks, wearing the surface of the larger rock away like sandpaper. Fracking is the fracturing of rock by pressurized liquid. It allows liquids such as petroleum, groundwater, and gas to move into wells, but is controversial because of its potential impact on the environment.
