Erosion and Weathering Test Flashcards
What is the definition of Erosion??
Erosion is the removal of rock particles by wind,water, or gravity
What is the definition of Weathering??
Weathering is the process that breaks down rock and other substances at Earth’s surface
Define: Mechanical Weathering
The type of weathering in which rock is physically broken up into smaller pieces
Define: Chemical Weathering
Chemical Weathering is the process that breaks down rock through chemical changes
Oxidation
Aka Oxygen
Iron combines with oxygen in the presence of water
Describe in a full sentence how withering and erosion work together
Weathering and erosion work together continuously to wear down and carry away the rocks at Earths surface
Describe and Identify the 5 forces of Mechanical Weathering
- Freezing& Thawing- when water freezes in a crack in a rock it expands and makes the crack bigger.
- Release of Pressure-erosion removes material from the surface of a mass for rock pressure on the rock reduced.This release of pressure causes the outside of the rock to crack and flakes off. (Earthquake or Volcano)
- Animal Actions-animals burrow in the ground loosen and break apart rocks in the soil.
- Abrasion-when things rub against or fly into something
- Plant Growth-Rocks can grow into rock and eventually crack it
Describe the 5 causes of chemical weathering
•Wate-Dissolve rocks
•Oxidation/Oxygen-Iron combines with oxygen in the presence of water
•Carbon Dioxide- can mix with water and soil to create carbonic acids
•Living Organisms- some plants release weak acids from their roots
•Acid Rain- Air pollution
When water vapor forms the chemicals are mixed with rain drops
What are the 2 factors that determines the rate of weathering, explain how the rate weathering
- Type of Rock- minerals that make up the rock determine how fast it weathers
- Climate- Climate refers to average weather conditions in the area. both C and M weathering occur faster in wet climates .
