Weathering & Soil Quiz

Which of the following best defines weathering?

• The process of wearing away rocks through the action of wind and water.
  
  
  

• The process that changes the color of wood over time.

• The chemical reaction that causes rocks to break down into sediment.

• The mechanical and chemical processes that change objects on Earth's surface over time.

What is one way in which weathering changes Earth's surface?

• It causes rocks to become brightly painted.
  
  
  

• It produces strangely shaped animals

• It makes cars shiny and new.

• It breaks, wears, abrades, and chemically alters rocks and rock surfaces.

Which of the following is an example of weathering that breaks rock into smaller pieces?

• Ice wedging
  
  
  

• Chemical makeup change

• Friction and impact

• Shiny cars becoming rusty

What is ice wedging?

• The process of grinding rocks away through friction or impact.
  
  
  

• The process by which rocks change color and dry out.

• The process of water freezing in cracks and widening them.

• The process that produces sediment such as sand and clay.

Which of the following can cause abrasion?

• Strong currents in a stream
  
  
  

• Changes in temperature

• Brightly painted walls

• Chemical reactions in rocks

What is one way plants cause weathering of rocks?

• By evaporating water
  
  
  

• By releasing oxygen

• By absorbing minerals from rocks

• By producing acid rain

Why is water crucial in chemical weathering?

• Because it dissolves rocks slowly
  
  
  

• Because it breaks rocks into smaller parts

• Because it releases oxygen into the air

• Because it attracts atoms from the minerals in rocks

What is the pH range for acids?

• 0 to 7
  
  
  

• 4.5 or less

• 7 to 14

• 2 to 3

How does acid rain differ from regular rain?

• Acid rain has a lower pH than regular rain
  
  
  

• Acid rain contains more oxygen than regular rain

• Acid rain evaporates faster than regular rain

• Acid rain forms only near the equator

Which type of weathering happens faster in warm, wet areas?

• Mechanical weathering
  
  
  

• Chemical weathering

• Both types of weathering

• None of the above