A cobble-sized sediment is naturally broken off the steep sides of a valley in a mountainous region. The sediment falls onto a glacier that occupies much of the valley. Over several years, the sediment “falls through” the glacier and is then dragged along the glacier’s bottom. Next, the sediment is deposited in a pile of debris at the end of the glacier. A few years later, the sediment becomes part of a sand dune many miles from the glacier. The sediment is the transported to a stream from which, after a few months, it is deposited in a delta out in the ocean. Finally, the sediment becomes part of a child’s sand castle on a beach tens of miles from the delta.

1. What is the most likely shape of the sediment just after it fell onto the glacier? Why?

2. How can the sediment be considered a “tool” or aid to erosion while it is in the glacier and how could a landscape feature the sediment help create?

3. How the sediment would most likely end up in a sand dune due to natural processes?

4. Provide three reasons to explain why the stream would transport the sediment at varying speeds?

5. How the sediment could have naturally moved from the delta to the beach?

6. What evidence in the paragraph suggests that a human was an agent of erosion for the sediment?

7. What are five possible natural agents of erosion that could have been responsible for moving the sediment?

8. What are three likely changes in the appearance of sediment as it was transported from the valley wall to the beach, and what are the causes of the changes?

I REALLY NEED HELP WITH THESE QUESTIONS!!!My teacher haven't taught it in class yet. And I can't really find the information in text book.

Can anyone please give me some ideas to answer each of them?????
THANKS A LOT!!!!!!

I am not a geologist!!!

Now think about each step all by yourself:
1. Big chunks of rock splitting off the cliff. Sharp edges where it split off and jagged shape.
2. It scrapes the land under the ice as it is dragged along, creating grooves and scars in the earth and rock under.
3. Ocean waves and freezing and thawing and ocean currents split it into tiny grains and spread it.
4. Big pieces slow, small ones fast. dense rock slow. stream at various speeds.
5. Waves and current
6. The kid digging the sand up to build the castle.
7. I guess you can come up with stuff like wind and waves and current
8. Read all the steps above.

1. The most likely shape of the sediment just after it fell onto the glacier would be angular or irregular. This is because when sediment breaks off from the steep sides of a valley, it typically fractures into rough, jagged pieces rather than smooth, rounded ones.

2. The sediment can be considered a "tool" or aid to erosion while it is in the glacier because as the glacier moves, it acts like a giant bulldozer, scraping and plowing the sediment along its path. The sediment can help create landscape features such as moraines or glacial valleys as it accumulates and gets rearranged by the movement of the glacier.

3. The sediment can end up in a sand dune due to natural processes if the glacier carrying the sediment melts or retreats, leaving behind a pile of debris called a lateral moraine. Over time, wind can transport this debris, including the sediment, and deposit it in a location where dunes can form.

4. The stream would transport the sediment at varying speeds for several reasons:

- Gradient: The steepness of the stream's slope or gradient can affect the speed of the water flow, which in turn impacts the sediment transport. steeper slopes can result in faster water flow and thus faster sediment transportation.
- Channel characteristics: Narrower channels tend to have faster flow velocities compared to wider channels, which can influence the sediment transport speed.
- Discharge: The amount of water flowing in the stream, known as the discharge, can vary due to factors such as rainfall or snowmelt. Higher discharge can result in faster flow velocities and increased sediment transport.

5. The sediment could have naturally moved from the delta to the beach through a process called longshore drift. Waves approaching the shore hit the beach at an angle, pushing sediment along the shoreline in a zigzag pattern. This movement of sediment is driven by the energy of the waves and can result in the gradual transportation of sediment from the delta to the beach.

6. There is no evidence in the paragraph that suggests a human was an agent of erosion for the sediment. It describes natural processes like sediment falling from valley walls, being transported by a glacier, wind, stream, and waves.

7. Five possible natural agents of erosion that could have been responsible for moving the sediment are:

- Gravity: Sediment falling from steep valley walls is an example of erosion caused by gravity.
- Glaciers: Glaciers can transport sediment as they move, dragging it along their bottom and depositing it in different locations.
- Wind: Wind can pick up loose sediment and carry it to new areas, facilitating erosion and deposition.
- Streams and rivers: Water flow in streams and rivers can erode and transport sediment, redistributing it downstream.
- Waves: Coastal waves can erode sediment from coastlines and transport it along the shoreline, leading to erosion and deposition.

8. The appearance of sediment changes as it is transported from the valley wall to the beach due to various factors:

- Weathering and abrasion: During transportation, the sediment can undergo further weathering and abrasion, causing it to become smaller in size and more rounded.
- Sorting: The sediment can also be sorted during transportation, with larger and heavier particles settling closer to the glacier, while finer particles are carried further.
- Mixing with other sediments: Along its journey, the sediment can mix with other types of sediment, which can result in changes in color, texture, or composition. For example, if the sediment mixes with finer particles, it may appear smoother or more compacted.

Of course! I'm here to help you. Let's go through each question step by step:

1. What is the most likely shape of the sediment just after it fell onto the glacier? Why?
The most likely shape of the sediment just after it fell onto the glacier would be angular or jagged. This is because when the sediment breaks off from the steep sides of the valley, it retains its initial shape until it undergoes further processes of erosion and transportation.

2. How can the sediment be considered a “tool” or aid to erosion while it is in the glacier and how could a landscape feature the sediment help create?
As the sediment falls through the glacier and is dragged along its bottom, it acts as a tool or aid for erosion. The sediment acts like sandpaper, scraping and grinding against the glacier's surface, carving out deep grooves and striations. This process, known as abrasion, can enhance the glacier's erosive power and result in the formation of U-shaped valleys and other glacial landforms.

3. How could the sediment most likely end up in a sand dune due to natural processes?
After being deposited at the end of the glacier, the sediment can be continuously transported by wind through a process called aeolian transportation. If prevailing winds are present, the sediment can be carried for long distances until it accumulates and forms a sand dune.

4. Provide three reasons to explain why the stream would transport the sediment at varying speeds.
The stream can transport sediment at varying speeds due to:
a) Differences in water velocity: The stream's flow velocity can change depending on the slope of the streambed and the volume of water. Faster flow velocity can carry more sediment.
b) Changes in stream morphology: The stream's channel shape can change along its course, causing variations in water velocity and sediment transport.
c) Sediment size and shape: Streams tend to transport larger sediment particles more slowly than smaller particles due to differences in buoyancy and resistance to flow.

5. How could the sediment have naturally moved from the delta to the beach?
The sediment can naturally move from the delta to the beach through the action of ocean waves and currents. Waves can pick up and transport sediment along the coastline, while longshore currents can carry sediment parallel to the shore. These processes gradually move the sediment from the delta area to different parts of the beach.

6. What evidence in the paragraph suggests that a human was an agent of erosion for the sediment?
Based on the information given in the paragraph, there is no evidence to suggest that a human was an agent of erosion for the sediment. All the processes mentioned, such as falling off the valley wall, being transported by the glacier, wind, stream, and ocean, are natural processes.

7. What are five possible natural agents of erosion that could have been responsible for moving the sediment?
The five possible natural agents of erosion responsible for moving the sediment mentioned in the paragraph are:
a) Gravity: Initial sediment detachment from the valley walls is caused by gravity, leading to the sediment falling onto the glacier.
b) Glaciers: The glacier's movement drags the sediment along its bottom, transporting it down the valley.
c) Wind (Aeolian processes): The wind carries the sediment away from the glacier, forming sand dunes.
d) Streams: The sediment is transported by the stream from its source to the delta.
e) Ocean waves and currents: The sediment is further moved along the coastline by waves and currents, eventually ending up on the beach.

8. What are three likely changes in the appearance of the sediment as it was transported from the valley wall to the beach, and what are the causes of the changes?
The three likely changes in the appearance of the sediment are:
a) Smoothing and rounding: As the sediment is transported by the glacier and dragged along its bottom, the jagged edges and angular features are smoothed and rounded through abrasion.
b) Sorting: During transportation by stream and wind, the sediment can be sorted based on size, with finer particles and smaller grains being carried farther, while larger particles settle sooner.
c) Weathering: Exposure to a variety of environments during transportation could lead to weathering. This may cause chemical and physical changes to the sediment's composition, texture, and color.

I hope these explanations help you understand the processes and concepts involved in answering the questions. Remember, if you have any more specific doubts or need further assistance, feel free to ask!

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