Weathering Flashcards
1
Q
What is weathering?
A
The break down of rock by the action of rainwater, extremes of temperature, and biological activity.
2
Q
What is mechanical weathering?
A
The breakdown of rock in situ without a change in its chemical composition.
3
Q
What is freeze-thaw weathering in steps?
A
1)Water enters cracks in rocks
2)Water freezes and expands, widening cracks
3)Ice melts and water goes deeper into cracks
4)Process repeats until rock splits in half
4
Q
What is chemical weathering?
A
Rainwater and seawater can be a weak acid. If a coastline is made up of rocks such as limestone or chalk, over time they can become dissolved by the acid in the water.
