North Carolina Building Contractor License Practice Exam

What describes the process when soil particles settle down to the bottom of water?

1. Filtration

2. Accumulation

3. Deposition

4. Transpiration

The correct answer is: Deposition

The process described in the question occurs when soil particles settle down to the bottom of a body of water, which is accurately referred to as deposition. This is a natural process where suspended materials, such as soil and sediment, are transported by water and eventually settle due to gravity when the water's velocity decreases. Deposition plays a critical role in shaping landscapes and forming various geological features. It can lead to the creation of river deltas, sedimentary layers, and other forms of land as particles accumulate over time. In environmental contexts, understanding deposition is vital for managing water bodies and assessing soil health, as it directly impacts ecosystems and human activities. In relation to the other options, filtration refers to the process of removing particles from fluids, primarily through barriers or porous materials, which does not adequately describe the settling of particles. Accumulation is a broader term that could refer to the build-up of materials but does not specifically denote the action of settling in water. Transpiration is a biological process where plants release water vapor into the atmosphere, unrelated to the settling of soil particles in water. Thus, deposition is the most precise and contextually accurate term for this process.