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Middle school Earth and space science - NGSS
Weathering and erosion
Review your understanding of weathering and erosion in this free article aligned to NGSS standards.
Key points:
- The movement of water can create and modify features on Earth’s surface. This happens through weathering, erosion, and deposition.
- Weathering occurs when water breaks down rocks and soil to create sediment. There are two main types of weathering: mechanical and chemical.
- Mechanical weathering is the creation of sediment through physical means. For example, a stream can dislodge soil particles from its banks.
- Chemical weathering is the creation of sediment through chemical means. For example, acid rain can react with rocks, dissolving them.
- Erosion occurs when water transports sediment from one place to another. For example, a river can carry mud downstream. In general, water has more erosional power when it flows faster and has more volume.
- Deposition (also called sedimentation) occurs when water drops sediment in a new location. For example, ocean waves can deposit sand on a beach.
Want to join the conversation?
Can acid rain dissolve human skin? I am curious(16 votes)
Acid rain is about 100 times less acidic than Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola is not strong enough to dissolve skin. Therefore, acid rain is far too weak to dissolve human skin.(36 votes)
So basically if I added water to rock paper scissors, I would win each of them? Nice!(9 votes)
water can melt/dissolve/break down paper, water can erode rock, and water can also rust/mildly erode scissors(plus the fact that scissors can't cut water, and the fact that paper can't catch water either) so, I guess you could.(4 votes)
why haven't i got hurt from acid rain(5 votes)
coca cola is 100 times more acidic then acid. coca cola cannot dissolve human skin. therefor. acid rain would not hurt you.(1 vote)
Is chemical or mechanical weathering more common?(9 votes)- physical weathering(1 vote)
- How come acid rain does not effect people?(4 votes)
It actually does affect people! It drinking/inhaling acid rain can cause asthma or chronic bronchitis. It can reduce heart function, leading to heart attacks and even death.(1 vote)
If you drink acid rain, would it be harmful? If so, how much harm would occur? What would be the symptoms?(3 votes)- Acid rain is pretty harmful when inhaling it can lead to illnesses like asthma or chronic bronchitis (chronic bronchitis affects the airways in your lungs and makes it inflamed. 'Causes severe coughing spells that bring up mucus, wheezing, chest pain and shortness of breath.)
Inhaling acid rain can cause a reduce heart function, leading to heart attacks and even death.
So yeah, diffidently don't drink/inhale acid rain.
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If you're wonder acid rain is made from natural causes, like volcanic eruptions. Though it's more commonly made due to human activities. :(
Edit: OH! I just searched this up but apparently acid rain doesn't only form in the shape of rain, it can come in many forms: rain, snow, sleet, hail, and fog!(2 votes)
Do you know the smaller the number on the ph scale the more acidic and the strongest acid (fluoroantimonic acid) has a ph scale of -31.3!(4 votes)- Can erosion happen fast then others?(2 votes)
Yes. with let's say a small rock, sure it can take a while to break it down, but eventually the small rock will break but it won't take as long as it would for a big rock. because the big rock has more volume than the small rock, the water has more atoms to break down for the big rock to be broken.(5 votes)
- how do we not get burned from acid rain but rocks do(4 votes)
Why does acid rain exist? If it was raining acid, would I be dissolved, or would I just get a lot of acid burns?(3 votes)
Acid Rain exists because we release harmful greenhouse gases which change the properties of the water. I'm pretty sure you would be perfectly fine if you stayed inside if it was raining acid.(2 votes)
