Use the paragraph to answer the question.

A soft lump of clay has water run on top of it. Most of the water and clay runs off the table. After a long while, the water is turned off and allowed to dry. There is no clay left; instead, there are small pebbles and other types of components left on the table.

Which natural process is this modeling?

This paragraph is modeling the process of weathering and erosion. The water running on the clay represents erosion, as the water is carrying away the clay particles from the table. As the water dries up, it leaves behind the small pebbles and other components, which represents the weathering process breaking down the clay into smaller pieces.

ok so what the answer

The natural process being modeled in the paragraph is weathering and erosion.

In 3 to 5 sentences, explain the processes that form river deltas.

River deltas are formed through a combination of deposition, sedimentation, and erosion. As a river flows towards the sea, it carries sediments and materials with it. When the river reaches the sea, the velocity of the water decreases, causing it to deposit the sediments it was carrying. Over time, this sediment deposition builds up and extends the river's mouth into a triangular-shaped landform known as a delta. The sedimentation process continues as more sediments are deposited, gradually forming a unique ecosystem rich in biodiversity. Erosion can also play a role in shaping the delta as tides and currents from the sea can further shape and modify the landform.

say it like a 7th grader wrote it

When a river meets the ocean, it slows down and drops all the dirt and rocks it was carrying, making a big pile of sediment called a delta. The river's mouth spreads out into a triangle shape, like a fan on the beach. Over time, more dirt and sand build up in the delta, creating a cool place where lots of plants and animals can live. The ocean's waves and currents also help shape the delta as they move the sediment around.

In 3 to 5 sentences, explain the similarities and differences between the processes of weathering and erosion. and say it like a 7th grader wrote it

Weathering and erosion both change the Earth's surface, but they do it in different ways. Weathering breaks down rocks into smaller pieces through processes like freezing and thawing, or chemical reactions. Erosion, on the other hand, moves those smaller pieces to different places, like when a river carries sediment downstream. So, weathering is like breaking stuff apart, and erosion is like carrying it away. Both processes work together to shape the land around us, but they each have their own jobs to do.