Science - Ch. 11 Lesson 3 Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is weathering?
Weathering refers to the processes that
break down rocks, changing Earth’s
surface over time.
What is erosion?
Erosion is the moving of weathered
material, or sediment, from one location
to another.
Random info
Slowly but surely, weathering and erosion wear down mountains.
What is physical weathering?1
The process of breaking rocks into small pieces without changing the composition of the rock is physical weathering.
What is frost wedging?
Frost wedging is what occurs when water in rocks freezes and melts repeatedly, breaking the rocks apart.
How can plants cause physical weathering?
The roots of plants can grow into cracks in rocks and eventually break the rock.
What are two ways physical weathering can occur?
Frost wedging and plant roots.
What is chemical weathering?
The process of changing the composition of rock and minerals by exposure to water and the atmosphere is called chemical weathering.
What can cause chemical weathering?
Gases in the atmosphere can cause chemical weathering.
How are physical and chemical weathering related?
Physical weathering exposes more surface area of rocks, allowing more water and atmospheric gases to enter rocks. Chemical weathering weakens rocks by changing the composition of some minerals and dissolving others.
What is soil?
Soil consists of weathered rock, mineral material, water, air, and organic matter from the remains of organisms
How is soil made and where is it made?
Soil forms directly on top of the rock layers from which it is made and is the result of hundreds to thousands of years of weathering.
When does soil formation start?
Soil formation begins when physical and chemical weathering break down rocks.
How can you speed up soil formation?
Warm, wet climates produce soil fastest. Large amounts of rain can speed weathering of rocks, and chemical reactions are faster in warmer temperatures.
What is sediment?
The minerals and small pieces of rock produced by weathering are called sediment.
