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Name:____________________________________________________Date:____________Pd:________
Standard S6E5 d., h., f., and j. Assessment Review
1. Define weathering..
The process by which rock materials are broken down into
sediment by the action of physical or chemical means
2. Define mechanical weathering.
The breakdown of rock into smaller pieces (sediments) by
physical means- wind, water, gravity, plants, animals, glaciers
(Ice
What are the agents of mechanical
weathering?
3. Define abrasion.
Abrasion the grinding and wearing away of rock surfaces
through the mechanical action of other rock or sand particles
Weathering by abrasion is caused by….
Wind, Water, and Gravity
4. Define ice-wedging (mechanical
weathering)
Starts when water seeps into cracks during warm weather.
When temperatures drop, the water freezes and expands-the
ice then pushes against the crack, this causes the crack to widen
Create an illustration ice-wedging
5. What happens to water when it
freezes?
It expands and become less dense
6. Define chemical weathering.
The process by which rocks break down as a result of chemical
reactions-the chemical bonds that hold the rock together
breakdown (acids and dissolves)
Agents- water, weak acid (acids in water and acids in living
things), air-oxidation
What are the agents of chemical
weathering?
7. When oxygen reacts with iron in rock
it causes the rock to …….
Rust (iron oxide)
This process is called ……
8. Chemical weathering is most rapid in
areas that are__________ and
____________.
9. Describe acid precipitation. What is
the main cause of acid precipitation?
Oxidation –chemical weathering process
Warm and Humid (wet/water vapor)
Rain, sleet, or snow, that contains a high concentration of acidsdue to the burning of fossil fuels/pollution
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10. Describe how acids in living things
chemically weather rock. Give examples
of living things that chemically weather
rock.
Lichens and mosses produce weak acids that can slowly break
down rock
11. What is biological weathering?
12. What is differential weathering?
Living things (plants and animals) that break rock apart
physically and chemically
The process by which softer, less weather resistant rocks wear
away and leaves harder, more weather resistant rocks behindEx. Devil’s Tower
13. Describe how surface area affects the
rate of weathering of rocks.
When the surface area of a rock is increased it causes the rock
to weather faster
Examples-Lichen and Mosses
Increase in surface area=an increase in the rate of weathering
If you break a rock into more pieces you increase the surface
area of the rock
14. How are the peaks of mountains and
the edges of rocks affected by the
weathering process?
15. Describe the process of erosion.
16. What can be done to reduce the
effects of erosion on steep slopes?
17. Describe how the following agents
cause erosion
Moving water (rivers), wind, glaciers,
waves, and gravity
The mountain peaks are rounded off and the edges of rocks
become smooth over time
The process by which wind, water, glaciers, or gravity transport
(move) soil and sediment from one place to another
1. Plant vegetation on the slope
2. Don’t remove trees and vegetation on a slope
3. Create terraces on the slope (stair-steps)
Water-This agent is considered the main agent of erosion and
moves an enormous amount of weathered rock and soil
creating some of the most impressive landforms on Earth
Wind-This agent causes erosion by lifting weathered rock
particles and blowing them away. These small particles
can be carried miles before they are dropped. It also
smashes sand against rock surfaces to cause weathering.
Glaciers-This agent erode rock and soil as they grind
slowly over Earth's surface. They can form U-Shaped
valleys. This agent is an enormous mass of moving ice.
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Ocean Waves-This agent of erosion and deposition
pounds against the shoreline braking rock apart creating
sand. It deposits sand to form beaches. It also moves or
erodes sand away from beaches.
Gravity-This agent of erosion moves weathered rock and
18. Compare and Contrast Deltas and
Alluvial Fans
soil down a slope.
Delta- fan-shaped deposit (landform) that forms when a river
empties into an ocean, gulf, or lake
Alluvial Fan- fan-shaped deposit (landform) that forms when a
rivers empties into a flat open plain (forms on dry land)
19. Describe the process of deposition.
is the process in which weathered rock and soil are laid
down or dropped by wind, water, glaciers, or gravity and
20. Describe the landforms that are
created when agents of erosion drop the
sediments they are carrying (process of
deposition). (wind, moving water,
gravity, glaciers, and waves)
landforms are created
Rivers (moving water)- Delta and Alluvial Fan
Gravity- Landslide (slump), Rock Fall, Mudflow, Creep
Glaciers- Moraine and Till
Ocean Waves- Beaches, Barrier Island, Sandbar
Wind- Sand Dune and Loess Deposits
21. Define soil
Soil is a mixture of rock particles, minerals (44%), decayed
organic material (6%), air(25%) and water (25%)
22. Describe how soil forms?
Soil forms as rock is broken down by weathering and mixes with
other materials on the surface of the earth
23. Humus found in soil comes from…
Decayed plants and animal matter (decomposers in the soilbacteria, fungi, worms etc.)
24. What type of soil is best for plant
growth? Why?
Loam is the best type of soil for plant growth.
Contain equal parts of sand, silt, and clay (soil particles), organic
matter, air, and water
Impermeable –not allowing water to pass through
25. What happens to soil when it loses it
nutrients?
What is leaching?
When soil loses its nutrients it becomes infertile-plants can not
grow in the soil
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Leaching is removal of nutrients and other substances from the
soil when water passes through it
26. Why is soil considered a
nonrenewable resource?
27. What is soil conservation?
Because it takes thousands of years to form-to get to the point
where it can support a lot of vegetation and homes for many
organisms
The method to maintain the fertility of the soil by protecting the
soil from erosion and nutrient loss (Saving Soil)
Describe the benefits that soil provides.
Provides minerals and nutrients for plants
Allows for water storage for plants
Provides a habitat for animals
Place to grow crops (food and other raw materials)
28. Draw a model of the soil profile.
Label each horizon and write a
description for each.
In which layer would you find the parent
rock? (D Horizon)
Soil Profile
A Horizon- Topsoil, litter, humus, vegetation, dark colored soil,
organisms
B Horizon-Subsoil, clays, silt, some plant roots-light in color
C Horizon-partially weathered rock
D Horizon- Bedrock-solid rock
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29. On a separate sheet of paper explain
the following soil conservation
techniques, be sure to include in your
explanation if the technique prevents
nutrient loss, soil erosion, or both:
 No-till farming
 Contour plowing
 Crop rotation
 Terracing
 Cover crop
 Windbreaks
No-till farming-leaving stalks on the ground provides cover
during heavy rains (decomposed stalks add nutrients back to
the soil)
Contour Plowing-plowing across the slope of a hill, the crops
act like series of dams to slow down erosion of soil from heavy
rains
Terracing- technique used on steep slopes look like stair stepsto prevent erosion from heavy rains
Crop Rotation- slow down nutrient depletion not planting the
same crop year after year-plant different crops
Cover Crop- Examples are soybeans and peanuts, these crops
are planted between harvest seasons to replace certain
nutrients and provide cover for the soil to prevent erosion
Windbreaks-Rows of large trees or bushes planted
between fields to help block the wind and prevent soil
erosion.