Understanding Mechanical Weathering Concepts

Front

True or False: Human activities, such as mining and farming, can also cause weathering.

Back

True

Front

What is the principle of uniformitarianism?

Back

The idea that the same natural laws and processes that operate in the universe now have always operated in the universe in the past.

Front

What is the process by which iron combines with oxygen in the presence of water?

Back

Oxidation.

Front

Which of the following is an example of mechanical weathering caused by animals in permeable ground?

Back

Animals burrowing into the ground and breaking rocks apart.

Front

What is the process called when weathered rock, sediment, and soil are moved from place to place?

Back

Erosion.

Front

What is mechanical weathering?

Back

The process of breaking down rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition.

Front

Give an example of mechanical weathering caused by temperature changes.

Back

Freeze-thaw weathering, where water seeps into cracks, freezes, expands, and breaks the rock apart.

Front

What role do plants play in mechanical weathering?

Back

Plant roots can grow into cracks in rocks, exerting pressure and causing the rocks to break apart.

Front

What is the difference between weathering and erosion?

Back

Weathering is the breakdown of rocks, while erosion is the movement of those weathered materials.

Front

What is chemical weathering?

Back

The process that alters the chemical composition of rocks, often through reactions with water and acids.