Mechanical and Chemical Weathering

How does freezing water cause the weathering of rocks?  The freezing water—

• keeps the rocks in place
• makes the rocks last longer
• expands cracks and breaks rocks
• causes rocks to fall in landslides

The process that breaks down rocks and other materials on Earth's surface is called

• weathering
• erosion
• soil conservation
• decomposition

How does wind abrasion work?

• Sediment is blown off a surface from wind.
• Wind-blown sediment strikes a surface.
• Wind blows large chunks of rock off a surface.
• Sediment falls off of a surface on its own.

What is mechanical weathering?

• Process through which rocks are physically broken into smaller pieces.
• Rocks are broken down through chemical changes.
• Rocks are worn away from acid in plant roots.
• Rocks broken down by machinery.

During chemical weathering, what can happen to the type of rock that has undergone chemical weathering?

• a new rock is produced that is larger than the original rock
• a new rock is produced that is the same as the original rock
• a new rock is produced that is different from the original rock 
• no new rock is created - it is just smaller in size

The diagrams  shows a natural process that weathers rock.
 Which statement best explains why this process results in weathering?

• frozen water acts as a solute
• water expands when it freezes
• the mass of water increases when it freezes
• frozen water dissolves most types of rock

Which of the following is an example of mechanical weathering?

• Acidic groundwater dissolving limestone
• frost wedging
• Paper being burned

A marble statue is left exposed to the weather.  Within a few years, the details on the statue have begun to weather away.  This weathering probably is caused by...

• oxygen in the air
• carbonic acid in rainwater
• lichens
• abrasion

How does wind abrasion work?

• Sediment is blown off a surface from wind.
• Wind-blown sediment strikes a surface.
• Wind blows large chunks of rock off a surface.
• Sediment falls off of a surface on its own.

Which agents  break down earth materials?

• wind only
• earthquakes and gravity
• ice and 007
• wind, water, and ice