What is the shape of a sand dune? While mountains are made of rock and their shape is fixed, why do you think sand dunes also have a similar shape, even though they are made of sand?
Sand dunes have a hill-like shape, often rising as high as 150 metres.
Sand dunes have a similar shape to mountains because wind shapes the sand into hill-like formations, similar to how geological forces shape mountains. The wind shifts and accumulates sand, creating peaks and slopes.
However, unlike mountains made of rock with fixed shapes, sand dunes are dynamic—their shapes can change over time as wind continuously moves the sand particles.
The similar shape is due to the natural process of material accumulation under external forces (wind for dunes, tectonic forces for mountains).
Explanation
The chapter explains that sand dunes are formed when wind shifts and shapes the sand into hill-like formations, sometimes rising as high as 150 metres. While mountains are made of rock with fixed shapes, sand dunes are formed by wind action on loose sand particles.
Solution Steps
Sand dunes have a hill-like shape, often rising as high as 150 metres
Wind shapes sand into hill-like formations, similar to how geological forces shape mountains
Wind shifts and accumulates sand, creating peaks and slopes
Unlike mountains made of rock with fixed shapes, sand dunes are dynamic and their shapes change over time
The similar shape is due to natural process of material accumulation under external forces (wind for dunes, tectonic forces for mountains)