Landslide

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/landslide

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the geological classification?Forms of mass wasting involving downslope movement of earth materials
2. What is the primary driving force?Gravity
3. Why do landslides happen faster when there's heavy rain or snowmelt?Heavy rain or snowmelt adds water to the soil, which makes the soil weaker and easier to slide.
4. How can earthquakes trigger landslides?Earthquakes shake the ground, which can loosen saturated soil or break rock, making it easier for a landslide to start.

Mass wasting: The gravitational movement of rock, soil, and debris downslope.
Pore water pressure: The pressure of water held within the pore spaces of soil or rock.
Shear strength: The resistance of a soil or rock mass to shearing stresses.
Landslide mitigation: The science and practice of reducing the risk and impact of landslides on human populations and infrastructure.