Geo Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is weathering?
Weathering is the process of breaking down rocks, soil, and minerals through exposure to the effects of weather, such as rain, wind, and temperature changes.
What are the two main types of weathering?
The two main types of weathering are mechanical weathering and chemical weathering.
True or False: Mechanical weathering involves the physical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces.
True
What is an example of mechanical weathering?
Frost wedging, where water freezes in cracks of rocks and expands, causing the rock to break apart.
True or False: Chemical weathering involves the chemical breakdown of rocks through reactions with substances like water and acids.
True
What is an example of chemical weathering?
Acid rain dissolving minerals in rocks.
How does weathering contribute to soil formation?
Weathering breaks down rocks into smaller particles, which mix with organic matter to form soil.
What role does vegetation play in weathering processes?
Vegetation can enhance weathering by releasing acids that break down rocks, and plant roots can physically break apart rocks.
How does temperature affect the rate of weathering?
Higher temperatures generally increase the rate of weathering by speeding up chemical reactions and expanding and contracting rocks.
What is the difference between mechanical and chemical weathering?
Mechanical weathering involves physical processes breaking down rocks, while chemical weathering involves chemical reactions breaking down rocks.
What is the primary agent of mechanical weathering in deserts?
Wind
What is the primary agent of chemical weathering in caves?
Carbonic acid
What is the name for the process where rocks are broken down by the growth of plant roots?
Biological weathering
What is the process where rocks are broken down by the expansion of water as it freezes?
Frost wedging
What type of weathering occurs when iron in rocks is exposed to oxygen and water?
Oxidation
What is the process where rocks are broken down by the growth of salt crystals in cracks?
Salt crystal growth
True or False: Weathering only occurs on the surface of rocks and minerals.
False
What is the term for the process where rocks are broken down into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition?
Physical weathering
What is the term for the process where rocks are broken down by chemical reactions that change their composition?
Chemical weathering
What is the term for the process where rocks are broken down by living organisms?
Biological weathering
How does weathering contribute to the formation of sedimentary rocks?
Weathering breaks down rocks into sediments, which can then be compacted and cemented to form sedimentary rocks.
What is the term for the process where rocks are broken down by the growth of plant roots?
Biological weathering
What is the term for the process where rocks are broken down by the expansion of water as it freezes?
Frost wedging
What does the term electricity strength mean
