Weathering

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What is weathering?

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Weathering is the process of breaking down rocks into sediment.

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What is physical weathering?

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Physical weathering is the process of breaking down rocks without changing their chemical composition, often through mechanical forces like ice wedging.

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What is chemical weathering?

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Chemical weathering involves the chemical alteration of minerals in rocks, leading to the formation of new materials.

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What is ice wedging?

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Ice wedging is a type of physical weathering where water seeps into cracks in rocks, freezes, expands, and causes the rock to break apart.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

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What causes cracks on sidewalks?

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Cracks on sidewalks can be caused by repeated freezing and thawing of water and by tree roots or plant roots growing bigger.

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What is abrasion in the context of weathering?

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Abrasion is the process of wearing down rocks through friction and impact, leading to physical weathering.

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How do physical and chemical weathering differ?

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Physical weathering breaks rocks into smaller pieces without changing their composition, while chemical weathering produces new materials through chemical reactions.

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What role does water play in weathering?

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Water plays a crucial role in both physical and chemical weathering, facilitating processes like ice wedging and chemical reactions.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

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What is an example of physical weathering?

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An example of physical weathering is the breaking of rocks due to freeze-thaw cycles.

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What is an example of chemical weathering?

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An example of chemical weathering is the rusting of iron in rocks due to oxidation.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2