ES Ch. 7 Review Sheet
Distinguish between mechanical and chemical weathering.
Mechanical weathering is the physical breakdown of rock into smaller pieces. Chemical weathering is the breakdown of rock by chemical processes. They both break apart rock.
Compare and contrast chemical/mechanical weathering and give examples of each.
Mechanical weathering is the physical breakdown of rock into smaller pieces. Chemical weathering is the breakdown of rock by chemical processes. They both break apart rock. Examples of mechanical weathering include frost and salt wedging, unloading and exfoliation, water and wind abrasion, impacts and collisions, and biological actions. Examples of chemical weathering include solution, hydration, hydrolysis, carbonation, oxidation, reduction, and chelation.
Describe the relationship of gravity to all agents of erosion.
Gravity is an agent of erosion. Rocks break apart only when a force makes them do so. Gravity is one force that helps break down rocks to smaller pieces.
Describe how climate influences the rate of weathering of Earth materials.
Rainfall and temperature can affect the rate in which rocks weather. High temperatures and greater rainfall increase the rate of chemical weathering. ... Rocks in tropical regions exposed to abundant rainfall and hot temperatures weather much faster than similar rocks residing in cold, dry regions.
How does climate influence the rate of weathering of earth materials?
A region's climate plays a significant role in the rate of weathering. The climate of tropical rainforests plays havoc with rocks, rapidly breaking them into soils and sediment through repeated exposure to heat and copious amounts of rainfall. A violent desert dust storm sandblasts rocks into fine particles of sand, but not as fast as the rate of weathering that occurs in tropical climates.
Identify variables that affect the rate of weathering.
Climate, surface area, rock composition, and pollution
Give examples of chemical and mechanical weathering.
Examples of mechanical weathering include frost and salt wedging, unloading and exfoliation, water and wind abrasion, impacts and collisions, and biological actions. Examples of chemical weathering include solution, hydration, hydrolysis, carbonation, oxidation, reduction, and chelation.
Describe how soil forms.
Soil forms as rock is broken down by weathering and mixes with other materials on the surface and is constantly formed wherever bedrock is exposed.
Differentiate among the factors of soil formation.
Soils are formed through the interaction of five major factors: time, climate, parent material, topography and relief, and organisms. The relative influence of each factor varies from place to place, but the combination of all five factors normally determines the kind of soil developing in any given place.
How do living things impact weathering and erosion?
Some animals weather rocks by scraping them as they feed. Other animals change Earth's surface by burrowing into it and moving material. Too many animals in one place can destroy most of the plants, leading to faster erosion.
Describe the different factors that affect mechanical and chemical weathering.
Some factors that affect chemical weathering are surface area, time, climate, rock type, and topography. Some factors that affect mechanical weathering are exfoliation, thermal expansion, organic activity, frost wedging, and crystal growth.