4th Grade Rocks Vocab

Deposition

When rocks, sand, or soil are dropped in a new place.

Erosion

When wind, water, or ice carry away rocks, sand, or soil.

Process

A set of steps that make something happen.

Weathering

When rocks break down into smaller pieces.

Energy

Water Cycle

How water moves around Earth in a never-ending cycle.

Precipitation

Rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls from the sky.

Evaporation

When water heats up and changes into gas (water vapor).

Condensation

When water vapor cools and turns back into liquid (clouds).

Collection

When water gathers in oceans, lakes, rivers, or underground.

Runoff

Water that flows over the ground into rivers, lakes, or oceans.

Sun

The main source of light and heat for Earth.

Slow Changes to Earth’s Surface

Changes that take a long time, like

mountains forming or rocks breaking apart.

Patterns

Things that repeat or happen in a regular way (like seasons).

Cause and Effect When one thing makes another thing happen.

System

A group of parts that work together (like the water cycle).

Flow of Energy

How energy moves from one thing to another (like sunlight to plants, then animals)

sediments

tiny pieces of weathered rock