Mechanical and Chemical Weathering Vocabulary Words

How does frost wedging contribute to the breakdown of rocks, and what conditions are necessary for it to occur effectively?

• Frost wedging occurs when plant roots grow into cracks, and it requires warm temperatures.

• Frost wedging involves the expansion of water when it freezes in cracks, requiring fluctuating temperatures around freezing.

• Frost wedging is the result of oxygen reacting with minerals, needing high humidity.

• Frost wedging dissolves limestone in acidic water, requiring acidic conditions.

Explain how oxidation can lead to the weakening of rocks and provide an example of a mineral that commonly undergoes this process.

• Oxidation causes rocks to break due to temperature changes, and quartz is a common example.

• Oxidation involves oxygen reacting with minerals like iron, causing rust and weakening rocks.

• Oxidation dissolves rocks in acidic rainwater, with calcite being a common example.

• Oxidation is the process of rocks being broken down by animals, with feldspar as an example.

Discuss the role of carbonation in the weathering of rocks and identify a type of rock that is particularly susceptible to this process.

• Carbonation forms a weak acid that dissolves rocks like granite.

• Carbonation involves water freezing in cracks, affecting rocks like basalt.

• Carbonation wears down rocks with particles, impacting rocks like sandstone.

• Carbonation forms a weak acid that dissolves rocks like limestone.

Analyze how abrasion contributes to the shaping of landscapes and provide an example of a natural feature formed by this process.

• Abrasion breaks rocks through freezing and thawing, forming valleys.

• Abrasion involves particles carried by wind or water scraping rocks, forming arches.

• Abrasion reacts with minerals, forming caves.

• Abrasion dissolves minerals, forming sinkholes.

Describe the formation of sediment and explain its significance in the rock cycle.

• Sediment is formed by acids breaking down rocks, playing a role in cave formation.

• Sediment consists of small particles from larger rocks, crucial for forming sedimentary rocks.

• Sediment is a large cave system, important for groundwater storage.

• Sediment results from temperature changes, significant in forming igneous rocks.

Evaluate the process of deposition and its impact on the environment, providing an example of a landform created by this process.

• Deposition carries sediment, forming mountains.

• Deposition settles sediment, forming deltas.

• Deposition reacts with minerals, forming caves.

• Deposition forms underground caves, impacting aquifers.

Explain how root wedging occurs and discuss its effects on rock structures.

• Root wedging involves water freezing in cracks, causing rock expansion.

• Root wedging is caused by wind carrying particles, leading to rock erosion.

• Root wedging occurs when plant roots grow into cracks, breaking rocks apart.

• Root wedging dissolves limestone, forming caves.

Discuss the formation of caverns and the geological processes involved.

• Caverns form from small cracks due to oxidation, involving chemical reactions.

• Caverns are large underground caves formed by dissolving rock, often limestone.

• Caverns are piles of sediment formed by erosion, involving physical processes.

• Caverns are holes created by burrowing animals, involving biological processes.

Analyze how burrowing by animals contributes to the weathering of rocks and soil.

• Burrowing allows wind to carry particles, leading to rock abrasion.

• Burrowing dissolves minerals, weakening rock structures.

• Burrowing by animals loosens soil and breaks rocks, aiding weathering.

• Burrowing creates weak acids, dissolving limestone.

Examine the natural forces that contributed to the formation of the Grand Canyon and describe the primary process involved.

• Wind erosion shaped the Grand Canyon over millions of years.

• The Colorado River cut through rock, forming the Grand Canyon.

• Glaciers carved through rock, creating the Grand Canyon.

• Plant roots expanded, breaking rock to form the Grand Canyon.