Lesson 5:1 Weathering

Front

What happens when surface area increases in relation to weathering?

Back

Both mechanical and chemical weathering speed up.

Front

What is the term for mechanical weathering where outer rock layers are stripped away, resulting in dome-shaped formations?

Back

Exfoliation.

Front

What is mechanical weathering?

Back

The process that breaks down rocks and minerals into smaller pieces without changing their composition.

Front

What is chemical weathering?

Back

The process where rocks and minerals undergo changes in their composition due to chemical reactions with agents like acids, water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.

Front

What forms when carbon dioxide combines with water?

Back

Carbonic acid.

Front

What is frost wedging?

Back

A type of mechanical weathering where water seeps into cracks in rocks, freezes, and expands, causing the rock to break apart.

Front

What is oxidation in the context of weathering?

Back

A chemical weathering process where oxygen reacts with minerals, often leading to rusting in iron-rich rocks.

Front

What role does water play in weathering?

Back

Water can cause both mechanical and chemical weathering, breaking down rocks through physical forces and chemical reactions.

Front

What is the difference between mechanical and chemical weathering?

Back

Mechanical weathering breaks rocks into smaller pieces without changing their composition, while chemical weathering alters the chemical structure of the rocks.

Front

What is the significance of weathering in the rock cycle?

Back

Weathering is crucial as it breaks down rocks into soil and sediments, which are essential for new rock formation.