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Grade 4 Science · Weathering and Erosion

Grade 4 Weathering and Erosion Practice Test

Build Grade 4 Science skills with five 10-question practice tests on physical and chemical weathering, erosion by water, wind, ice, and gravity, sediment transport, prevention, and investigations.

Weathering and Erosion Practice Tests

These Grade 4 Science practice tests help students distinguish weathering from erosion and explain how Earth materials change. Students study physical and chemical weathering, water, wind, ice, and gravity, sediment movement, erosion prevention, models, variables, evidence, and conclusions.

Skills covered

  • Distinguishing physical and chemical weathering
  • Explaining frost wedging, roots, abrasion, and chemical reactions
  • Identifying erosion by water, wind, ice, waves, and gravity
  • Recognizing sediment transport and deposition
  • Describing vegetation and engineering methods that reduce erosion
  • Planning investigations and using evidence to support conclusions

How to use these practice tests

Ask whether the Earth material is being broken down in place or transported away. Identify the force involved and look for evidence such as cracks, sediment, runoff, channels, roots, slopes, or layers. For investigations, compare controlled conditions and use measurements to support conclusions.

For more Grade 4 Science practice, return to the Grade 4 Science category.

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5 Tests
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1. Test

Grade 4 Weathering and Erosion Practice Tests

A 10-question Grade 4 Science practice test on physical and chemical weathering, erosion agents, sediment transport, erosion prevention, investigations, and evidence.

Read each Earth science situation and choose the answer that best explains the type of weathering, erosion force, evidence, or prevention method.

10 Questions
0/10 Questions0 %
Correct 0
Incorrect 0
Unanswered 10
1. QuestionMultiple choice

What is physical weathering?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Rock breaks into smaller pieces without becoming a new substance..

  1. Identify the process: Decide whether rock is breaking down, sediment is moving, or a force is causing the change.
  2. Use the evidence: Physical weathering changes the size or shape of rock but not its chemical identity.
  3. Confirm the explanation: The correct choice is Rock breaks into smaller pieces without becoming a new substance..

Physical weathering changes the size or shape of rock but not its chemical identity.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

What is chemical weathering?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Rock minerals change into new substances through chemical reactions..

  1. Identify the process: Decide whether rock is breaking down, sediment is moving, or a force is causing the change.
  2. Use the evidence: Chemical weathering changes the minerals in rock through reactions with water, air, or other substances.
  3. Confirm the explanation: The correct choice is Rock minerals change into new substances through chemical reactions..

Chemical weathering changes the minerals in rock through reactions with water, air, or other substances.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

What is frost wedging?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is Water freezes in a crack, expands, and pushes the rock apart..

  1. Identify the process: Decide whether rock is breaking down, sediment is moving, or a force is causing the change.
  2. Use the evidence: Frozen water takes up more space and can widen cracks in rock.
  3. Confirm the explanation: The correct choice is Water freezes in a crack, expands, and pushes the rock apart..

Frozen water takes up more space and can widen cracks in rock.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

How can plant roots cause physical weathering?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is Roots grow into cracks and push pieces of rock apart..

  1. Identify the process: Decide whether rock is breaking down, sediment is moving, or a force is causing the change.
  2. Use the evidence: Growing roots can widen existing cracks and break rock into smaller pieces.
  3. Confirm the explanation: The correct choice is Roots grow into cracks and push pieces of rock apart..

Growing roots can widen existing cracks and break rock into smaller pieces.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

What is abrasion?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Rock surfaces are scraped or rubbed by moving particles..

  1. Identify the process: Decide whether rock is breaking down, sediment is moving, or a force is causing the change.
  2. Use the evidence: Abrasion is wearing away caused by contact with moving rock, sand, ice, or other material.
  3. Confirm the explanation: The correct choice is Rock surfaces are scraped or rubbed by moving particles..

Abrasion is wearing away caused by contact with moving rock, sand, ice, or other material.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

How can acid rain cause chemical weathering?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Acidic water can react with and dissolve some minerals in rock..

  1. Identify the process: Decide whether rock is breaking down, sediment is moving, or a force is causing the change.
  2. Use the evidence: Acidic precipitation can react with certain minerals and change or dissolve them.
  3. Confirm the explanation: The correct choice is Acidic water can react with and dissolve some minerals in rock..

Acidic precipitation can react with certain minerals and change or dissolve them.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

How can repeated heating and cooling weather a rock?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is The rock expands and contracts, which can create or widen cracks..

  1. Identify the process: Decide whether rock is breaking down, sediment is moving, or a force is causing the change.
  2. Use the evidence: Temperature changes can make rock expand and contract until it breaks.
  3. Confirm the explanation: The correct choice is The rock expands and contracts, which can create or widen cracks..

Temperature changes can make rock expand and contract until it breaks.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

Which statement distinguishes weathering from erosion?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is Weathering breaks material down, while erosion moves the material..

  1. Identify the process: Decide whether rock is breaking down, sediment is moving, or a force is causing the change.
  2. Use the evidence: The key difference is breakdown in place versus transport to another location.
  3. Confirm the explanation: The correct choice is Weathering breaks material down, while erosion moves the material..

The key difference is breakdown in place versus transport to another location.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

Why can weathering be difficult to notice at first?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Many types of weathering happen slowly over a long time..

  1. Identify the process: Decide whether rock is breaking down, sediment is moving, or a force is causing the change.
  2. Use the evidence: Small changes can build up over years or longer periods.
  3. Confirm the explanation: The correct choice is Many types of weathering happen slowly over a long time..

Small changes can build up over years or longer periods.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

Which event is an example of weathering?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is A crack in a rock becomes wider after water freezes inside it..

  1. Identify the process: Decide whether rock is breaking down, sediment is moving, or a force is causing the change.
  2. Use the evidence: Freezing water breaks the rock in place, which is physical weathering.
  3. Confirm the explanation: The correct choice is A crack in a rock becomes wider after water freezes inside it..

Freezing water breaks the rock in place, which is physical weathering.

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Frequently asked questions about Grade 4 Weathering and Erosion

What is physical weathering?

Physical weathering breaks rock into smaller pieces without changing the minerals into new substances.

What causes erosion?

Water, wind, moving ice, waves, and gravity can move weathered rock, soil, and other sediment.

How many questions are on this page?

The page includes five mini tests with 10 questions each, for 50 Grade 4 Weathering and Erosion questions in total.