Weathering

Front

What is weathering?

Back

Weathering is the process that breaks down rocks and minerals into smaller pieces through physical, chemical, or biological means.

Front

What is physical weathering?

Back

Physical weathering is the process of breaking down rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition.

Front

What is chemical weathering?

Back

Chemical weathering involves the chemical alteration of minerals in rocks, leading to changes in their composition.

Front

Give an example of physical weathering.

Back

An example of physical weathering is wind blasting sand at rock and carving out arches.

Front

True or False: Physical weathering changes the chemical composition of rocks.

Back

False. Physical weathering only breaks rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition.

Front

What is an example of chemical weathering?

Back

An example of chemical weathering is caves being formed by acid rain.

Front

What role does temperature play in physical weathering?

Back

Temperature changes can cause rocks to expand and contract, leading to cracks and breaking.

Front

What is frost wedging?

Back

Frost wedging is a type of physical weathering where water seeps into cracks in rocks, freezes, and expands, causing the rock to break apart.

Front

How does plant growth contribute to weathering?

Back

Plant roots can grow into cracks in rocks, and as they expand, they can break the rocks apart, contributing to physical weathering.

Front

What is the difference between weathering and erosion?

Back

Weathering is the breaking down of rocks, while erosion is the movement of those broken pieces by wind, water, or ice.