M2 Subtopic 2

Question 1

External processes that occur on or near the Earth’s surface. They are driven by external forces such as solar energy and gravity

Answer 1

Exogenic Processes

Question 2

Internal processes that originate within the Earth. They are driven by internal forces such as heat from the Earth’s interior and gravitational energy

Answer 2

Endogenic Process

Question 3

The process by which rocks and minerals break down into smaller particles
through physical, chemical, and biological means

Answer 3

Weathering

Question 4

Three Types of Weathering

Answer 4

Physical (Mechanical) Weathering
Chemical Weathering
Biological Weathering

Question 5

Involves the breakdown of rocks and minerals into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition

Answer 5

Physical Weathering (Mechanical Weathering)

Question 6

Water seeps into cracks, freezes, expands, and eventually breaks the rock apart. Common in cold climates

Answer 6

Freeze-Thaw (Frost Wedging)

Question 7

Rocks expand when heated and contract when cooled. Repeated temperature changes can cause the rock to crack

Answer 7

Thermal Expansion

Question 8

Rocks and particles scrape against each other, causing them to wear
down. Common in windy areas and riverbeds

Answer 8

Abrasion

Question 9

Layers of rock peel off due to pressure release or thermal expansion

Answer 9

Exfoliation

Question 10

Involves the chemical alteration of minerals within rocks, leading to their breakdown

Answer 10

Chemical Weathering

Question 11

Water reacts with minerals to form new minerals and soluble salts. For example, feldspar in granite reacts with water to form clay minerals

Answer 11

Hydrolysis

Question 12

Minerals react with oxygen, often leading to rust formation. Common in rocks containing iron.

Answer 12

Oxidation

Question 13

Carbon dioxide dissolved in water forms carbonic acid, which reacts with minerals like limestone, causing them to dissolve

Answer 13

Carbonation

Question 14

Minerals dissolved directly in water, such as halite (rock salt) dissolving in rainwater

Answer 14

Solution

Question 15

Involves the breakdown of rocks by living organisms

Answer 15

Biological Weathering

Question 16

Roots grow into cracks in rocks, exerting pressure and causing the rock to break apart

Answer 16

Plant Roots

Question 17

These organisms produce acids that chemically weather the rock surface.

Answer 17

Lichens and Mosses

Question 18

Burrowing animals and insects can physically break down rocks

Answer 18

Animal Activities

Question 19

Importance of Weathering

Answer 19

Soil Formation
Landscape Shaping
Nutrient Cycling

Question 20

The process by which natural forces move weathered rock and soil from one place to another

Answer 20

Erosion

Question 21

Enumerate the Four Agents of Erosion.

Answer 21

Water Erosion
Wind Erosion
Glacial Erosion (Ice)
Gravitational Erosion

Question 22

Types of Water Erosion

Answer 22

Hydraulic Action
Abrasion
Solution
Forms v-shaped valleys

Question 23

Types of Wind Erosion

Answer 23

Deflation
Abrasion

Question 24

Types of Glacial (Ice) Erosion

Answer 24

Plucking, Abrasion
Forms u-shaped valleys

Question 25

Type of Gravitational Erosion

Answer 25

Mass Wasting

Question 26

The geological process by which sediments, soil, and rocks are added to a landform or landmass. This occurs when the forces carrying the sediments (such as water, wind, or ice) lose their energy and can no longer transport the material, causing it to settle and accumulate

Answer 26

Deposition

Question 27

Process of Deposition

Answer 27

Decrease in Transporting Medium’s Energy Sorting of Sediments Deposition in Different Environments

Question 28

Heavier and larger particles settle first, followed by progressively finer sediments

Answer 28

Graded Bedding

Question 29

Layers of sediment are deposited at an angle to the horizontal, commonly found in environments like rivers and deserts

Answer 29

Cross-bedding

Question 30

Occurs in river and stream environments, forming features like deltas, alluvial fans, and floodplains

Answer 30

Fluvial Deposition

Question 31

Caused by the wind in the desert and coastal environments, forming sand dunes and loess deposits

Answer 31

Aeolian Deposition

Question 32

Results from the movement and melting of glaciers, forming moraines and outwash plains

Answer 32

Glacial Deposition

Question 33

Happens in oceanic environments, forming features like continental shelves and abyssal plains

Answer 33

Marine Deposition

Question 34

Formed by wind deposition in deserts and coastal areas, where sand accumulates in mounds or ridges

Answer 34

Sand Dunes

Question 35

Accumulations of dirt and rocks that have been pushed along by a glacier. When the glacier retreats, it leaves these deposits behind. Example

Answer 35

Moraines

Question 36

Fine, wind-blown sediments that accumulate and form extensive deposits, typically found in regions with glacial history

Answer 36

Loess Deposits

Question 37

Formed by wave action depositing sand and gravel along shorelines.

Answer 37

Beaches and Coastal Features

Question 38

Importance of Deposition

Answer 38

Landform Creation Soil Fertility Ecological Habitats Human Settlement

Question 39

also known as mass movement, refers to the downslope movement of rock, soil, and debris under the direct influence of gravity.

Answer 39

Mass Wasting

Question 40

Types/Processes of Mass Wasting

Answer 40

Creep Slide Flow Falls

Question 41

slow, gradual, and almost imperceptible movement of soil and rock downslope

Answer 41

Creep

Question 42

A sudden and rapid movement of a cohesive block of soil or rock along a defined plane of weakness.

Answer 42

Slide

Question 43

Movements along a flat or planar surface, such as a bedding plane or fault

Answer 43

Translational Slide

Question 44

Movement along a curved surface, causing the material to rotate backward.

Answer 44

Rotational Slide (Slump)

Question 45

Movement of rock, soil, and debris mixed with water, behaving like a fluid.

Answer 45

Flow

Question 45

Types of Flows

Answer 45

Earthflows, Mudflows, Debris Flows

Question 46

Free-fall of rock or debris from a steep cliff or slope

Answer 46

Falls

Question 47

Factors Influencing Mass Wasting

Answer 47

Slope Angle Material Composition Water Content Vegetation Human Activities