Unit 5 : Weathering

Question 1

list and describe the five main factors affecting weathering processes

Answer 1

• bedrock: hard vs soft, soluble vs insoluble
• climate: precipitation, temperature, freeze thaw
• groundwater: water movement, porosity, erosion by water
• slope: exposure to the sun, wind, precipitation
• time: the longer the exposure the greater the effect

Question 2

describe physical weathering

Answer 2

• occurs when rock disintegrates without any chemcial alterations (frost action crystallization, hydration, pressure, gravity etc)
• processes produces great surface area of rock for chemical weathering to operate (they go hand in hand)

Question 3

what is chemical weathering

Answer 3

• when rock is broken down by chemical alteration
• involves reactions between air, water and minerals in the rock (hydration and hydrolysis, oxidation, carbonation and solution)