Surface Processes Semester Test Review

Front

What do you call a U-shaped lake that forms when a river cuts off one of its curves, leaving behind a crescent-shaped body of water no longer connected to the river?

Back

Oxbow lake

Front

What kind of weathering happens when rocks break down because their chemical makeup changes?

Back

chemical weathering

Front

What type of weathering happens when rocks break apart without any change to their chemical structure?

Back

Physical (or mechanical) weathering

Front

What kind of weathering happens when water gets into cracks in rocks, freezes, expands, and causes the rock to break?

Back

1. Frost wedging

Front

What is the name of the process where natural forces like wind or water wear away and carry off rock, soil, or other materials?

Back

Erosion

Front

What is the main difference between a flow and a slide in mass wasting events?

Back

• A flow involves loose material moving like a thick liquid, often with water mixed in, and doesn’t follow a clear path.

• A slide involves a solid mass of material moving down a slope along a clear, flat surface.

Front

What type of movement is happening if you see a curved tree trunk on a slope, and is the very slow downhill movement of soil and rock that you usually can't see happening?

Back

Creep

Front

How does plant life (vegetation) help keep slopes stable and reduce erosion?

Back

Roots hold the soil in place, reducing erosion and helping prevent landslides.

Front

What’s the difference between chemical weathering from dissolution and chemical weathering from oxidation?

Back

1. Dissolution occurs when minerals dissolve in water. Oxidation happens when minerals react with oxygen, usually causing rust-like effects.

Front

What do you call a glacier that forms in high mountain areas, flows downhill through valleys, and is surrounded by mountain walls?

Back

Valley glacier (or Alpine glacier)