Questions and Answers
What term is used to describe the transported material resulting from erosion?
Which type of erosion is characterized by the formation of steep-sided valleys due to water flow?
In which form does ice primarily contribute to the erosion process?
What is the term used to describe the movement of rock and soil down a slope due to gravity?
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How does wind contribute to erosion, particularly in dry areas?
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What is the primary process involved in mechanical weathering?
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Which condition allows freeze-thaw weathering to effectively occur?
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What mechanism primarily drives salt wedging in rocks?
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Which type of weathering includes the physical penetration of roots in the soil?
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What characterizes chemical weathering?
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Which process describes the action of salt crystals pushing rock grains apart?
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What is bioturbation in the context of organic weathering?
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Which of the following processes is NOT a type of weathering?
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What is the primary process of weathering?
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Which factor does NOT influence the rate of weathering?
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What distinguishes chemical weathering from mechanical weathering?
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Which of the following is NOT an agent of weathering?
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What happens to rocks during mechanical weathering?
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Which situation is most likely to enhance weathering?
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In which type of weathering do rocks undergo physical disintegration?
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Which of the following best describes mass wasting?
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What is the primary agent of erosion on Earth?
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What occurs during the process of carbonation?
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Which of the following best describes hydrolysis?
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Which type of erosion is primarily caused by the force of gravity?
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Which chemical process works on rocks containing iron?
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How does rust contribute to the weathering of rocks?
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Which of the following is not a type of erosion?
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What indicates that erosion is taking place in a fluid?
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What is the primary characteristic of creep in mass wasting?
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Which type of mass wasting involves the sliding of materials along a curved surface?
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What causes landslides to occur?
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What is the defining feature of rockfall in the context of mass wasting?
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Which type of mass wasting poses a significant hazard during construction due to its potential for causing damage?
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Which of the following is NOT a cause of landslides?
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What type of mass wasting is primarily characterized by the movement of water-saturated debris?
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Why is it important to consider creep when evaluating land for real estate?
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Study Notes
Weathering
- Weathering involves the breakdown or dissolution of rocks and minerals through physical or chemical processes.
- Agents of weathering include water, ice, acids, salts, temperature variations, plants, and animals.
- Physical weathering leads to the disintegration of rocks into smaller pieces without altering their chemical composition.
- Chemical weathering transforms minerals in rocks, creating new substances through reactions.
- Key factors influencing weathering include climate, time, mineral composition of parent rock, number of fissures, and slope degree.
Types of Weathering
- Mechanical weathering breaks rocks into smaller fragments without chemical change; the resulting material is called sediment.
- Organic weathering, or bioweathering, is caused by living organisms (e.g., root growth, animal burrowing) that break down rocks.
- Chemical weathering, or decomposition, results from chemical reactions that wear away rocks, including three main types:
- Carbonation: CO2 interacts with water and minerals, forming acids that weaken rock.
- Hydrolysis: Chemical changes occur when minerals react with water, creating new solutions.
- Oxidation: Oxygen reacts with ions (e.g., iron) in rock, resulting in rust and weakening the rock structure.
Erosion
- Erosion is the geological process where earthen materials are worn away and transported by natural forces like wind and water.
- Four main types of erosion: water, wind, ice, and gravity erosion.
- Water erosion is the dominant type, occurring through rain, rivers, floods, lakes, and oceans.
Types of Erosion
- Water Erosion: Can carry soil and sand, visible in muddy conditions where sediment is suspended in water.
- Wind Erosion: Often moves dust, sand, and ash, causing the formation of dunes and smoothing rocks through mechanical action.
- Ice Erosion: Glaciers slowly erode land, transporting a range of materials and forming distinct landforms, with moraines as evidence of eroded sediment.
- Gravity Erosion (Mass Movement): The movement of soil or rock down slopes due to gravity, contributing to landslides and other slope failures.
Mass Wasting
- Mass wasting refers to the downslope movement of rock and soil due to gravity.
- Six types of mass wasting include:
- Creep: Slow, imperceptible movement of soil/rock, often indicated by curved trees.
- Slump: The downward sliding of rock material along a curved surface, less dangerous but can damage structures.
- Landslide: Rapid movement of rock, earth, or debris from unstable slopes, influenced by water, seismic activity, and human actions.
- Rockfall: Rapid detachment and downward movement of rock from cliffs or road cuts, often triggered by weathering.
- Debris Flow: A mixture of water, rock, and soil flows rapidly down a slope, usually after heavy rain.
- Avalanche: A rapid flow of snow and ice down a slope, often triggered by disturbances.
Important Concepts
- Gravity significantly impacts erosion and mass wasting both directly and indirectly through its influence on water and the stability of slopes.
- Each erosion type plays a critical role in shaping landscapes and forming landforms over time.
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Description
This quiz covers key concepts in GEOL 100 focusing on weathering, erosion, and mass wasting. Students will explore definitions, types, and factors that affect landforms through these geological processes. Prepare to test your understanding of how these processes shape our environment.
