Test One

Question 1

Explain how the composition and total surface area of rock affects the rate of weathering.

Answer 1

Composition or what something is made of affects the rate of weathering because if a rock is weak, it will weather faster.

Question 2

Describe how mechanical and chemical weathering work together to break down rocks and minerals

Answer 2

Mechanical weathering can work by breaking down the soil or rock to make it more easily weather and to expose it to chemical weathering.

Question 3

Describe how differences in elevation and climate affect the rate of weathering.

Answer 3

Depending on the elevation, there can be snow and ice at higher elevations which can cause weather by expanding. High elevations have gravity which can cause a rock to fall and break. Climate can cause issues because some areas are more dry and the dryness can cause one type of weathering or it could be wetter and then you have rain which can cause weathering or snow/ice which can expand and cause cracking.

Question 4

Describe how water, ice , tree roots and animals cause weathering.

Answer 4

Water freezing causes ice which can expand in cracks. Rivers wear away by moving rocks along with the current and by working to cut to sea level. Tree roots go into cracks and cause the rock to break. Animals burrow or otherwise disturb the ground.

Question 5

Describe how water, acids and air cause chemical weathering of rocks.

Answer 5

Acid eats away, water dissolves and ai causes oxidation.

Question 6

Explain how human activity can affect weathering.

Answer 6

Humans use automobiles and the exhausts cause acid weathering. We break rock and cause other damage to our environment which causes weathering.

Question 7

Describe soil and explain now soil forms.

Answer 7

Soil is formed from weathered rock fragments and can vary based on what rock it was formed from.

Question 8

Describe the three soil horizons.

Answer 8

1st soil horizon is known as topsoil. 2nd soil horizon is known as subsoil. The 3rd soil horizon has bedrock included in it.

Question 9

Describe how different climates affect soil.

Answer 9

Humid climates can cause leaching because of the rain. Dry climates doesn’t produce nutrients.

Question 10

Describe three important benefits that soil provides.

Answer 10

Provides housing for pets, food for plants and storage of water.

Question 11

Describe the three ways to prevent soil erosion.

Answer 11

Cover crops, crop rotation, contour plowing and terracing.

Question 12

Explain the connection between storms and wave erosion.

Answer 12

Storms can cause larger waves which produce much more dramatic shoreline erosion.

Question 13

Explain how waves break in shallow water.

Answer 13

The ocean floor crowds the lower part of the wave and the waves get close and taller and unable to support themselves. They then crash and break.

Question 14

Describe how beaches form.

Answer 14

Beaches are formed by the different materials deposited by waves.

Question 15

Describe types of coastal landforms created by wave action.

Answer 15

Sea stacks are columns of resistant rock, sea caves are holes in fractured rock along sea cliffs, sea arches are natural bridges, headlands are finger shaped projectsions and wave cut terrace near the level platform beneath the water at the base of a cliff

Question 16

Explain why areas with fine materials and little vegetation are more vulnerable to wind erosion.

Answer 16

Because the less vegetation, the few things that can anchor down the soil.

Question 17

Describe how wind moves sand and finer materials.

Answer 17

Because they are lighter and easier to pick up, the wind is able to move them.

Question 18

Describe the landforms that result from wind erosion and deposition.

Answer 18

Desert payments, desert hollows and sand dunes. Dunes are hills of sand. Desert pavement are pebbles and small broken rocks and hollows are depressions in the landscape.

Question 19

Compare alpine and continental glaciers.

Answer 19

Continental glaciers can cover an entire continent, while alpine glaciers form in mountain valleys.

Question 20

Explain how ice in a glacier flows.

Answer 20

By sliding when the ice melts and the glacier moves over it, and by flowing where the ice crystals themselves flow over one another and the glacier migrates.

Question 21

Describe the effects of glacial erosion and deposition.

Answer 21

Glaciers move and as they move they pick up material. This material is embedded in the ice and it scrapes the land causing erosion. When the glacier melts, it deposits it’s material. Minnesota is a good example of a glacier melting. Glaciers moving across it melted and formed lakes. It is known as the State with 10,000 lakes.

Question 22

Explain how slope is related to mass movement.

Answer 22

Slope is related to mass movement because the greater the slope, the more chance of there actually being mass movement. The greater the slope, the more easy it is for materials go slide.

Question 23

State how gravity affects mass movement.

Answer 23

Gravity plays an important part because it causes things to shift and be moved.

Question 24

Describe different types of mass movements and explain how they shape landforms.

Answer 24

Rock Falls or areas in which rocks if falling down a steep slope. Landslides are areas of extreme material movement over a large area. Mudflows are caused when wate and mud mix together and the resulting combination moves together. Lahars are caused by volcanic activity where water from melted ice heats up and moves down the mountain. Creep is the slow movement of materials.