3. Geologic Processes

Multiple Choice

Which process breaks rocks into smaller pieces without moving them?

• Erosion

• Weathering

• Deposition

• Mass wasting

Multiple Choice

Which best explains the connection between weathering and erosion? 

• Erosion creates new rocks.

• Weathering moves sediments.

• Weathering breaks down rocks, erosion moves them.

• Both are the same.

Multiple Choice

A student listed volcanic eruption under exogenic processes. How would you explain why this is incorrect? 

• Volcanism is an internal process that builds landforms from inside the Earth. 
  

• Volcanism only happens underwater.

• Volcanism breaks down rocks on the surface.

• Volcanism helps with the movement of weathered materials.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best explains the main source of Earth’s internal heat?

• Solar radiation

• Photosynthesis

• Radioactive decay of elements

• Ocean currents

Multiple Choice

A student claims that magma forms only at hotspots. Which argument best challenges this claim?

• Magma only forms underwater

• Magma can also form at plate boundaries

• Magma cannot form without human activity

• Magma is not real

Multiple Choice

Why do faults commonly occur at transform plate boundaries?

• Plates are melting

• Plates are pulling apart

• Plates are sliding past each other

• Plates are colliding

Multiple Choice

In what way does convection in the mantle affect plate tectonics?

• It generates wind currents

• It pulls crust inward

• It drives the movement of tectonic plates

• It causes ocean tides

Multiple Choice

What best explains the difference between folds and faults?

• Folds break while faults bend

• Folds occur in the mantle, faults in the crus

• Folds bend rocks; faults break them

• Folds are caused by earthquakes; faults are not

Multiple Choice

Why would a strike-slip fault most likely form in an area under shearing stress?

• Because rocks are being pushed together and cause folding.

• Because the land is stretched and pulled apart.

• Because the Earth's crust is sliding in opposite directions.

• Because rock layers are forced upward.

Multiple Choice

An engineer is studying a fault zone where the ground appears to be pulling apart, forming a rift valley. What type of stress is most likely causing this, and why? 

• Compression – because it squeezes rocks together to form ridges

• Tension – because it stretches the crust and pulls rock layers away from each other

• Shearing – because it causes rocks to slide past one another 
  

• Friction – because it prevents rocks from moving during stress