Science: Constructive and Destructive Forces Vocabulary

landforms A natural land shape or feature, such as mountains, plains, or valleys. Examples: Mountains, hills, valleys, plains, canyon

sand dune A hill of sand, made and shaped by wind

delta An area of new land at the mouth of a river, formed from sediments carried by the river

fault A break in the earth’s crust

volcano A mountain that forms as molten rock flows through a crack onto the Earth’s surface

magma lava Melted, or molten, rock beneath Earth’s surface Molten rock that reaches Earth’s surface

earthquake A movement of the ground caused by a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust.

seismograph A machine that records movement in the Earth’s crust

deposition Dropping, or depositing, sediment into a new location

erosion The process of moving sediment by wind, moving water, or ice

weathering The process of wearing away ROCKS by natural means

dams Dams stop the flow of a river

levee A wall of earth or concrete built along the banks of a waterway