Weathering Review

These rocks were broken apart from the continuous freeze/thaw of water in the cracks of the rocks. This is an example of:

• frost wedging

• acid rain

• wind weathering

• river flowing over and smoothing out the rock

Answer explanation

Frost wedging takes small cracks in rocks and expands them. Each time the ice forms it makes the crack larger. 

Frost wedging creates “cracked” rocks as well as destroys roads in many cold climates around the world.

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

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

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

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

__________ is the wearing away or slow breaking apart of rock into smaller pieces.

• erosion

• earthquakes

• deposition

• weathering

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

_ is the process of weathered particles moving from one location to another

_ is the process of rocks, sediments and other materials being deposited or settle in a new location due to water, wind, and ice. 

Scientist have theorized that the Kummakivi Balancing Rock resulted from

• Through glacial deposition, as the two rocks were balanced on top of one another as glaciers melted.

• Through water weathering as the two rocks were previously one, and through rain the middle was broken down and over time two rocks were formed.

• Through wind erosion, as strong gust of winds were able to pick up the Kummakivi rock and drop it on top of the bottom rock.

Answer explanation

Large glaciers can move boulders and deposit them in new places. 

During the last Ice Age glacial boulders were moved hundreds of mile. 

Balancing rocks are usually a boulder that travelled on top of a glacier and deposited in an awkward position

True or False:

Due to Wind Erosion and Deposition, sand dunes are constantly being created and destroyed.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Sand Dunes are constantly created and destroyed through the process of wind erosion and deposition.

As sediments/sand are moved (erosion), dunes begin to be destroyed. As the sediments/sand land in a new location (deposition) they begin to make new dunes. 

This is an image of a U-shaped valley. _ most likely caused this valley to form long ago.

Answer explanation

Glaciers can carve out massive U-shaped valleys between mountains. 

As the glacier recedes (melts) it reveals the new landscape. 

During many parts of earth’s history there have been ice ages. 

The last ice age was so dramatic it carved out the Great Lakes.

Below is a time lapse video of the Mississippi River Delta in Louisiana. How can we as scientist explain how the Louisiana near the Mississippi River delta is growing?

Answer explanation

As a river flows into a larger body of water, particles and rocks it is carrying drop down. 

The particles and rocks pile up to create a new landform called a delta. 

Deltas are typically triangle shaped and the river will find many ways to cut through them.