Erosion, the movement of rocks which have been worn down by weathering, is one part of Geography which GCSE students need to understand. This quiz will test their knowledge of coastal, river, glacial and other forms of erosion.
Erosion is the way that rocks and soil are worn away by wind, water, ice and other methods. Our entire planet is carved and shaped by this process. Erosion carves gorges and valleys and leaves behind the landscapes that we recognise. Everything from the Lake District to the Somerset Levels, and the land that London is built on through to the Yorkshire Dales - all are shaped by the processes of erosion.
The movement of water is the major component of erosion. Rain will move soil and rocks that have been worn down by weathering, and carry them down the drainage basin into streams and eventually into the rivers. The rivers carry them even further before they are either deposited on flood plains or carried into the sea where they are moved again to form something else. Waves from the sea attack the cliffs that their erosion has formed, leaving coastal features such as stacks and caves.