Original Project
Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition
The surface of the earth is changed as rock material is broken, carried, and dropped in new locations.
Item WE016004: Both the growth of plant roots and the freezing of water can break off pieces of rock from earth’s solid rock layer.
Which of the following can cause pieces of rock to break off from earth's solid rock layer?
- Both the growth of plant roots and the freezing of water can break off pieces of rock from earth’s solid rock layer.
- The growth of plant roots can break off pieces of rock from earth’s solid rock layer, but the freezing of water cannot.
- The freezing of water can break off pieces of rock from earth’s solid rock layer, but the growth of plant roots cannot.
- Neither the freezing of water nor the growth of plant roots can break off pieces of rock from earth’s solid rock layer.
- Distribution of Responses
- Students Responding Correctly
| Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 243 | 466 | 52% |
| Grades | |||
| 6–8 | 131 | 271 | 48% |
| 9–12 | 112 | 195 | 57% |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 109 | 221 | 49% |
| Female | 129 | 237 | 54% |
| Primary Language | |||
| English | 215 | 407 | 53% |
| Other | 18 | 42 | 43% |
- NRC Framework
- Grade 5 ESS2.A Water, ice, wind, living organisms, and gravity break rocks, soils, and sediments into smaller particles and move them around.
- Notes
- See also ESS2.C, Framework p. 184: …ice expansion contributes to rock erosion…