Surface Processes and Products

Weathering

Understand the key concept: weathering refers to the breakdown of rocks in place, without removal of the products
Identify different types of weathering, these include physical weathering (also known as mechanical weathering), chemical weathering, and biological weathering
Be familiar with factors that influence the rate of weathering, such as rock type, climate, and topography
Be able to describe the processes and outcomes of weathering, like the formation of clasts, soil, and regolith

Mass Wasting

Understand the term mass wasting, which refers to the downslope movement of soil and rock material under the force of gravity
Recognize the different mechanisms of mass wasting, including slides, falls, flows, and creeps
Note the factors that influence mass wasting events, like slope gradient, water content, and vegetation cover
Recognize that mass wasting processes can lead to specific landforms such as talc slopes

Erosion and Transportation

Learn that erosion is the removal of weathered material from its source area by agents like water, ice, or wind
Understand the different modes of sediment transportation, including saltation, suspension, and traction
Know the key principle of sediment transportation and deposition: the size and amount of sediment that can be transported is largely determined by the energy of the transporting agent
Get to grips with how different processes of erosion alter the landscape, such as the formation of valleys, cliffs, and dunes

Deposition

Become familiar with the concept of deposition, it is when the energy of the transporting medium is insufficient to carry the sediment load and it is dropped
Understand the key factors influencing sediment deposition, like the velocity of the transport medium
Recognize the use of stratigraphy in interpreting past depositional environments
Comprehend how the process of deposition leads to the creation of certain geological features such as floodplains, beaches, and deltas

Always attempt to connect your understanding of these processes with the geological record and possible interpretation of past environments. This will aid in tackling questions about interpreting the past during assessments.