Mass wasting may be explained as the movement of loose, unconsilidatwd, soil or earth materials down a slope. Two major forces which controls the level or degree of mass wastibg is frictional and Gravitational forces. Frictional forces oppose movement of materials down slope while Gravitational force aids the movement of materials. The midpoint of these tow forces is marked by the ANGLE OF REPOSE, which is the maximum slope angle these loose materials can maintain. At greater angles, slope is steeper and gravity wins, while at more gentle slope angles. Friction wins.
