Final Review
44-148
Plate Tectonics
44-52
The order of layers of the Earth
from the surface to the
center is:
A. Lithosphere,
asthenosphere, outer core,
inner core
B. Lithosphere,
asthenosphere, inner core,
outer core
C. Outer core, inner core,
lithosphere, asthenosphere
D. Asthenosphere,
lithosphere, outer core,
The mantle not included in the choices to the left
inner core
changes from a solid at the upper most part in the
lithosphere to partially melted in the athenosphere
to solid again before the outer liquid core.
Seafloor spreading occurs at which of
the following plate boundaries?
a. divergent
b. transform fault
c. convergent
d. subduction
Seafloor spreading states that new
ocean crust is formed at ocean
ridges and destroyed at deep-sea
trenches.
Magma is forced toward the crust
along an ocean ridge and fills the
gap that is created.
When the magma hardens, a small
amount of new ocean floor is
added to Earth’s surface.
Divergent boundaries are places
where two tectonic plates are
moving apart.
Most divergent boundaries are found
in rifts, or fault-bounded valleys,
which form along the axis of an
ocean ridge.
Mountain ranges form at this
type of boundary:
a. divergent
b. transform fault
c. convergent
d. subduction
Convergent boundaries are places
where two tectonic plates are
moving toward each other.
One type of convergent
boundaries is when
continental crust converges
and collides with another
continental crust.
Because continental rocks are too
buoyant to be forced into the
mantle, the colliding edges of
the continents are crumpled
and uplifted to form a
mountain range.
A fault formed at the point
where two plates slide past
each other is called a:
a. convection fault
b. divergent fault
c. transform fault
d. subduction fault
• A transform boundary is a
place where two plates slide
horizontally past each other,
deforming or fracturing the
crust.
• Transform boundaries are
characterized by long faults
and usually offset sections
of ocean ridges.
• The San Andreas Fault is an
exception to the fact that
transform boundaries rarely
occur on continents.
The theory that Earth’s crust
and upper mantle are
broken into sections that
are constantly moving is
called:
a. seafloor spreading
b. plate tectonics
c. convection currents
d. fault making
• The theory of plate
tectonics states that
Earth’s crust and rigid
upper mantle are broken
into enormous moving
slabs called plates.
• There are a dozen or so
major plates and several
smaller ones.
• Tectonic plates move in
different directions and at
different rates over
Earth’s surface.
What hypothesis states that
the continents were once
joined to form a single
supercontinent?
A. Plate tectonics
B. Seafloor spreading
C. Continental drift
D. Paleomagnetism
• The first time that the
idea of moving continents
was proposed as a serious
scientific hypothesis was
in 1912 by a German
scientist named
Alfred Wegener.
• Wegener’s hypothesis,
continental drift,
proposed that Earth’s
continents had once been
joined as a single
landmass.
The supercontinent in the
continental drift hypothesis
was called____________.
A. Panthalassa
B. Pangaea
C. Mesosaurus
D. Africa
• Wegener’s hypothesis,
continental drift, proposed
that Earth’s continents had
once been joined as a single
landmass.
• Wegener proposed that
Pangaea began to break
apart about 200 million
years ago and that the
continents had continued to
slowly move to their
present positions.
• Pangaea, a Greek word that
means “all the earth,” refers
to the combined landmass.
One kind of evidence that
supports Wegener’s
hypothesis is that__________.
A. The same magnetic
directions exist on different
continents
B. Major rivers on different
continents match
C. Land bridges still exist that
connect major continents
D. Fossils of the same
organisms have been found
on different continents
– fossils of several different
animals and plants that once
lived on land had been found
on widely separated
continents.
– Fossils of Glossopteris, a seed
fern that resembled low
shrubs, have been found on
many continents, indicating
that the areas had a single
climate that was close to the
equator.
Notice in the picture plants fossils in Antarctica, how could that be possible in its
current location?
What was the main reason
Wegener’s continental drift
hypothesis was rejected?
A. He could not provide any
fossil evidence that a super
continent existed.
B. He was not well liked by
other scientists
C. He could not provide any
climatic evidence.
D. He could not provide an
explanation for why the
continents moved.
• In the early 1900s, most
scientists rejected Wegener’s
hypothesis of continental drift.
• Two unanswered questions—
what forces could move
continents and how continents
could move without
shattering—were the main
reasons that the hypothesis of
continental drift was rejected.
• Later on these questions were
answered with the concepts of
sea floor spreading.
Earthquakes
53-61
Most earthquakes happen at the edges
of
A. tectonic plates.
B. earthquake zones.
C. elastic deformations.
D. shear waves.
•
•
•
•
•
The majority of the world’s
earthquakes occur in relatively
narrow seismic belts that are
associated with tectonic plate
boundaries.
Almost 80 percent of all earthquakes
occur in the Circum-Pacific Belt.
About 15 percent take place across
southern
Europe and Asia.
Most of the remaining earthquakes
occur in narrow bands that run along
the crests of ocean ridges.
A very small percentage of
earthquakes happen far from
tectonic plate boundaries and are
distributed more or less at random.
A break in Earth’s crust
along which blocks of
crust slide relative to
one another is
A. a plate.
B. a fault.
C. a deformation.
D. an earthquake.
• A fault is the fracture or
system of fractures
along which movement
occurs.
• The surface along which
the movement takes
places is called the fault
plane.
How much more ground motion
does an earthquake with a
magnitude of 6.0 have than
one with a magnitude of 4.0?
A. 2 times as much
B. 100 times as much
C. 10 times as much
D. 1000 times as much
• The Richter scale is a
numerical scale based on the
size of the largest seismic
waves generated by a quake
that is used to describe its
magnitude.
• Each successive number in the
scale represents an increase in
seismic-wave size, or
amplitude, of a
factor of 10.
• Thus each unit it changes
multiply by another 10. So a
change from a 3.0 to a 7.0
quake the 7.0 is
– 10 by 10 by 10 by 10 = 10,000
times stronger.
The strength of an
earthquake is determined
by the…
A. type of fault on which it
occurs.
B. amount of damage it
causes.
C. gap hypothesis.
D. amount of ground
motion or energy
released.
• Magnitude (or strength)
is the measurement of
the amount of energy
released during an
earthquake.
• The Richter scale is a
numerical scale based on
the size of the largest
seismic waves generated
by a quake that is used to
describe its magnitude.
What is the degree to which
people feel an earthquake and
how much damage it causes
called?
A. Intensity
B. Magnitude
C. Richter
D. frequency
• Magnitude is the
measurement of the amount
of energy released during an
earthquake.
• The Richter scale is a
numerical scale based on the
size of the largest seismic
waves generated by a quake
that is used to describe its
magnitude.
• The modified Mercalli scale,
which measures the amount
of damage done to the
structures involved, is used to
determine the intensity of an
earthquake.
Seismic waves that cause
particles of rock to
move in a side-to-side
direction (or up and
down)
A. Focus
B. Seismograph
C. P waves
D. Epicenter
E. S waves
• Primary waves, or
P-waves, squeeze and
pull rocks in the same
direction along which
the waves are traveling
• Secondary waves, or Swaves, cause rocks to
move at right angles in
relation
to the direction of
the waves.
Seismic waves that cause
particles of rock to
move in a back-andforth motion (squeeze
and pull)
A. Focus
B. Seismograph
C. P waves
D. Epicenter
E. S waves
• Primary waves, or
P-waves, squeeze and
pull rocks in the same
direction along which
the waves are traveling
• Secondary waves, or Swaves, cause rocks to
move at right angles in
relation
to the direction of
the waves.
The point along a fault at
which the first motion
of an earthquake occurs
A. Focus
B. Seismograph
C. P waves
D. Epicenter
E. S waves
• The focus of an
earthquake is the point
of failure of rocks at the
depth where an
earthquake originates.
• The epicenter of an
earthquake is the point
on Earth’s surface
directly above the
focus.
The point on Earth’s
surface directly above
an earthquake’s starting
point
A. Focus
B. Seismograph
C. P waves
D. Epicenter
E. S waves
• The epicenter of an
earthquake is the point
on Earth’s surface
directly above the
focus.
Volcanoes
62-70
A shield volcano
A. is sometimes called a
stratovolcano.
B. has gently sloping
sides.
C. has a jagged surface.
D. forms when lava
erupts underwater.
• A shield volcano is a
mountain with broad,
gently sloping sides and
a nearly circular base
that forms when layer
upon layer of basaltic
lava accumulates during
nonexplosive eruptions.
A combination of explosive and
nonexplosive eruptions will create a
A. shield volcano.
B. cinder cone volcano.
C. composite volcano.
D. plateau volcano.
•
•
•
Composite volcanoes are large
volcanoes that form when layers of
volcanic fragments alternate with
lava.
The magma that forms composite
volcanoes commonly contains large
amounts of silica, water, and gases,
making these volcanoes violently
explosive.
Also called stratovolcano, a term for
steep-sided, often symmetrical cones
constructed of alternating layers of
lava flows, ash, and other volcanic
debris. Composite volcanoes tend to
erupt explosively and pose
considerable danger to nearby life
and property.
The volcanoes of Hawaii and other
places far from tectonic plate
boundaries are known as
A. Calderas.
B. hot spots.
C. mid-ocean ridges.
D. viscous volcanoes.
• Some volcanoes are located far
from plate boundaries and form
as the result of hot spots.
• Hot spots are unusually hot
regions of Earth’s mantle where
high-temperature plumes of
mantle material rise toward the
surface.
• A plume does not move laterally,
which results in a trail of
progressively older volcanoes
that formed as a plate moved
over a hot spot.
• The Hawaiian Islands continue to
rise above the ocean floor as the
Pacific Plate moves slowly over a
hot spot.
Which of these would you
expect to see during a
nonexplosive eruption?
A. giant fountains of lava and
rock
B. a mountainside caving in
C. clouds of ash darkening
the sky
D. huge lava flows
• The volcanoes fueled by
basaltic magma erupt
relatively quietly.
• Rhyolitic magma has high
viscosity and fuels very
explosive volcanoes which
also includes tephra or
ejected rock.
• Nonexplosive volcanoes are
going to be missing that
tephra and ash component.
• Here’s an example on the
right, take not of what’s not
there.
Highly explosive volcanoes tend to have what type of magma?
A. magma with high silica, high viscosity, and higher gas content
B. magma with low silica, low viscosity, and lower gas content
C. magma with low silica, high viscosity, and lower gas content
D. magma with no silica, high viscosity, and no gas content
What type of volcano is built
almost entirely from
ejected lava fragments?
A. cinder cone
B. shield volcano
C. composite cone
D. pahoehoe volcano
• A cinder-cone volcano is a
generally small, steepsided volcano that forms
when material ejected
high into the air falls back
to Earth and piles up
around the vent.
• The magma that fuels
these volcanoes contains
more water and silica
than shield volcanoes,
which makes them more
explosive in nature.
The most violent volcanic
eruptions are associated
with what type of
volcano?
A. cinder cones
B. composite cones
C. shield volcanoes
D. fissure eruptions
• Composite volcanoes are
large volcanoes that form
when layers of volcanic
fragments alternate with
lava.
• The magma that forms
composite volcanoes
commonly contains large
amounts of silica, water,
and gases, making these
volcanoes violently
explosive.
Where are volcanoes most
likely to form?
A. near the center of
continents
B. along plate boundaries
C. along bodies of water
D. in mountainous areas
• Most volcanoes form at
plate boundaries.
• About 80 percent of all
volcanoes are found
along convergent
boundaries.
• About 15 percent are
found along divergent
boundaries.
• Only about 5 percent of
extrusive igneous activity
occurs far from plate
boundaries.
Which of the following plays a
major part in determining the
form of a volcano?
A. elevation above sea level
B. magma composition
C. local soil type
D. nearness of other volcanoes
• The appearance of a volcano
depends on
two factors:
– The type of material that
forms the volcano
– The type of eruptions that
occur
• Based on these two criteria,
three major types of volcanoes
have been identified:
– Shield volcanoes
– Cinder-cone volcanoes
– Composite volcanoes
Energy Resources
71-
Which of the following is a disadvantage
associated with most alternative fuel
sources?
A.
They create a great deal of pollution
B.
They are expensive to implement
C.
They are easily constructed anywhere on
Earth
D.
Their wastes can be easily contained
•
•
•
•
Most alternative energy sources such as wind
power, hydroelectric, solar cells or solar
power, and geothermal create little pollution
especially in the operation.
Along with creating little pollution they
typically have no or little waste so they can
easily be contained.
Although it varies most of the renewable
technologies can be used anywhere on Earth,
or at least on of the many options would.
They are however more experiment and not
as mass produced as nonrenewable fuels
such as fossil fuels and therefore may be
more expensive to start. Keep in mind long
term costs of pollution and health issues as
well. Fossil fuels do have hidden costs not
included in the electric bill.
What is the term for two or more
nuclei joining together to form
a new nucleus?
A. Combining
B. Splitting
C. Fusion
D. Fission
• Nuclear Fusion; a nuclear
change in which two light
elements are forced
together at extremely high
temperatures, to form a
heavier nucleus and
releasing energy.
• Fusion releases more
energy than fission but
requires extremely high
temps such as 1 million C.
• An example a of giant
fusion reactor is the sun.
Strip mining is used
A. when coal is found deep in
Earth.
B. to limit the use of explosives
C. in order to protect the
environment.
D. to mine shallow coal deposits
• Used when ore bodies lie near
the surface
• The cheapest and safest method,
but can have a significant impact
environmentally on the surface.
• The ore is close to the surface of
the land (30m) but has one or
more layers of rock and dirt on
top of it (Overburden). To mine
the ore, these layers have to be
taken off.
• This mining is done in long,
narrow strips. When the ore is
done in one strip, the miners
begin to create another strip next
to it. The waste, dirt, and rock
that they take off of the top of
the next strip is put on top of the
last one (It is now called Spoil).
What is reusing waste or scrap materials
called?
A. Reducing
B. recycling
C. refreshing
D. resourcing
•
•
Recycling is the process of collecting
and processing materials that would
otherwise be thrown away as trash
and turning them into new products.
Recycling can benefit your
community and the environment.
Benefits of Recycling
– Reduces the amount of waste sent to
landfills and incinerators;
– Conserves natural resources such as
timber, water, and minerals;
– Prevents pollution caused by reducing
the need to collect new raw materials;
– Saves energy;
– Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that
contribute to global climate change;
– Helps sustain the environment for
future generations;
– Helps create new well-paying jobs in
the recycling and manufacturing
industries in the United States.
Which of the following is NOT a stage of coal formation?
A.
hematite
B.
Lignite
C.
anthracite
D.
peat
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Coal is a result of the fossilization of organic matter,
mainly trees. This process, measured in terms of
geological time, takes place over several million
years .
Everything begins with a marsh on the border of
a sedimentary basin (i.e. a lagoon or a lake).
Tectonic activity raises sea levels, submerging and
killing off vegetation.
Plant debris accumulates and becomes covered
with layers of mud and sand in a process known
as sedimentation. This shelters the debris from the
air and slows down the rotting process.
Vegetation grows back... until the next flooding.
The sedimentary basin gradually sinks under the
weight of the sediments and the layers of dead
plants are subjected to rising temperatures,
leading progressively to their transformation.
The first stage of sedimentation turns it into peat,
then lignite, then bituminous, and finally anthracite.
Anthracite has the highest carbon content.
Burial compacts the peat and, consequently, much
water is squeezed out during the first stages of
burial. Continued burial and the addition of heat
and time cause the complex hydrocarbon
compounds in the peat to break down and alter in a
variety of ways becoming higher in carbon content
and lower in water content. The higher the carbon
content the hotter it will burn.
• 76-80 are matching
sections that deal with
the vocabulary on your
quizlet site. Sign into
quizlet.com and go to the
energy terms to find the
definitions for;
• Nonrenewable resource • Renewable resource • Natural resource • Recycling • Fossil fuel –
81-85 are matching sections
that deal with the
vocabulary on your
quizlet site. Sign into
quizlet.com and go to the
energy terms to find the
definitions for;
• Petroleum • Natural gas • Coal • Acid precipitation • Smog -
To produce energy, nuclear power plants
use a process called
A. fission.
B. fusion.
C. fractionation.
D. None of the above
•
•
•
Fission: is a nuclear change in
which nuclei with large mass
numbers (uranium 235) are split
apart into lighter nuclei when
struck by neutrons, each fission
releases two or three more
neutrons and energy and the cycle
continues.
Nuclear Fusion; a nuclear
change in which two isotopes of
light elements are forced together
at extremely high temperatures, to
form a heavier nucleus and
releasing energy. As of yet we
can not sustain fusion reactions
but that’s what powers stars.
A nuclear reactor makes power by
controlling fission reactions which
makes heat to boil water that turns
to steam that turns an electric
generator, not that different from
coal or hydroelectric power.
A mixture of gasoline and alcohol used as a fuel
is…
A.
Nuclear energy
B.
Chemical energy
C.
Hydroelectric energy
D.
Gasohol
E.
Wind Energy
•
•
Ethanol is often obtained by fermenting
agricultural crops or crop wastes thus are often
called biofuels.
Gasohol has higher octane, or
antiknock, properties than
•
gasoline and burns more
slowly, coolly, and completely,
resulting in reduced emissions
of some pollutants,
There are several common ethanol (alcohol)
fuel mixtures in use around the world. The
use of pure ethanol in engines is only
possible if the engine is designed or modified
for that purpose. Ethanol can be blended
with gasoline in various ratios for use in
unmodified gasoline engines, and with minor
modifications can also be used with a higher
content of ethanol.
Ethanol fuel mixtures have "E" numbers
which describe the percentage of ethanol
fuel in the mixture by volume, for example,
E85 is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Low
ethanol blends, from E5 to E25, are also
known as gasohol, though internationally the
most common use of the term gasohol refers
to the E10 blend.
Blends of E10 or less are used in more than
twenty countries around the world by 2011,
led by the United States, where almost all
retail gasoline sold in 2010 was blended with
10% of ethanol. Blends from E20 to E25 have
been used in Brazil since the late 1970s. E85
is commonly used in the U.S. and Europe
for flexible-fuel vehicles.
Electrical energy produced by falling water is…
A.
Nuclear energy
B.
Chemical energy
C.
Hydroelectric energy
D.
Gasohol
E.
Wind Energy
hydroelectric and coal-fired power plants
produce electricity in a similar way. In both
cases a power source is used to turn a
propeller-like piece called a turbine, which
then turns a metal shaft in an electric
generator, which is the motor that produces
electricity. A coal-fired power plant uses
steam to turn the turbine blades; whereas a
hydroelectric plant uses falling water to turn
the turbine. The results are the same.
The theory is to build a dam on a large river that
has a large drop in elevation (there are not
many hydroelectric plants in Kansas or
Florida). The dam stores lots of water behind
it in the reservoir. Near the bottom of the
dam wall there is the water intake. Gravity
causes it to fall through the penstock inside
the dam. At the end of the penstock there is
a turbine propeller, which is turned by the
moving water. The shaft from the turbine
goes up into the generator, which produces
the power.
Energy released by a fission or fusion
reaction is…
A. Nuclear energy
B. Chemical energy
C. Hydroelectric energy
D. Gasohol
E.
Wind Energy
•
•
•
Fission: is a nuclear change in
which nuclei with large mass
numbers (uranium 235) are split
apart into lighter nuclei when
struck by neutrons, each fission
releases two or three more
neutrons and energy and the cycle
continues.
Nuclear Fusion; a nuclear
change in which two isotopes of
light elements are forced together
at extremely high temperatures, to
form a heavier nucleus and
releasing energy. As of yet we
can not sustain fusion reactions
but that’s what powers stars.
A nuclear reactor makes power by
controlling fission reactions which
makes heat to boil water that turns
to steam that turns an electric
generator, not that different from
coal or hydroelectric power.
Use of a windmill to drive an electric generator
is…
A.
Nuclear energy
B.
Chemical energy
C.
Hydroelectric energy
D.
Gasohol
E.
Wind Energy
•
•
•
•
Wind energy development is growing rapidly
in the United States, with utility scale
projects installed in 38 states as of 2011.
North Carolina has exceptional offshore wind
resources – in fact, National Renewable
Energy Laboratory estimates show that N.C.’s
potential is higher than any other East Coast
state.
The terms wind energy or wind power
describe the process by which the wind is
used to generate mechanical power or
electricity. Wind turbines convert the kinetic
energy in the wind into mechanical power.
This mechanical power can be used for
specific tasks (such as grinding grain or
pumping water) or a generator can convert
this mechanical power into electricity.
So how do wind turbines make electricity?
Simply stated, a wind turbine works the
opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity
to make wind, like a fan, wind turbines use
wind to make electricity. The wind turns the
blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to
a generator and makes electricity.
Energy released when a chemical compound
reacts to produce a new compound is...
A.
Nuclear energy
B.
Chemical energy
C.
Hydroelectric energy
D.
Gasohol
E.
Wind Energy
•
•
•
Chemical energy is in fact a staple in our
lives, and we use it every day no matter what
form of energy we are using. Batteries that
are powering our cell phones and television
remotes use chemical energy to perform the
functions we require.
Chemical energy is produced through
reactions that occur in chemical compounds.
A chemical compound is a simple collection
of many atoms that are bound to each other.
As the bonds between these atoms loosens
or breaks, a chemical reaction will occur, and
new compounds are created. When a
molecule breaks down and converts into
newer molecules, the energy between these
bonds will be released.
A simple example of this is when we eat food
every day. The molecules in our food are
broken down into smaller pieces, and the
bonds between the atoms between the
molecules are also broken down. The energy
that we get from food is obtained through
these broken bonds and is absorbed into our
bodies to use in our every day life.
What is the organic material
formed in soil from the
decayed remains of plants
and animals called?
a. Bedrock
b. residual soil
c. parent rock
d. humus
“Humus is a complex organic
substance resulting from
the breakdown of plant
material in a process
called humification.
This process can occur
naturally in soil, or in the
production of compost.
Humus is extremely
important to the fertility
of soils in both a physical
and chemical sense.”
-Science Daily
The removal from soil of
substances that can be
dissolved in water is
called
a. Leaching.
b. Horizons.
c. Infiltration.
d. transporting
• Leaching is the
movement of minerals
or nutrients in the soil
typically being dissolved
in water as they are
eroded and then carried
away into deeper layers
of the soil (or rock) and
carried off in bodies of
water.
Soil quality based on the
relative size of soil particles
is called
a. residual soil.
b. soil texture
c. soil structure.
d. soil particles.
• The quality of soil is an
important characteristic to
know when determining the
appropriate conditions for
crop growth. Its also useful
when environmental
conditions such as a
drought may cause the soil
to behave in a certain
peculiar ways.
• Soil textures is a term
commonly used to describe
the different sized particles
in a type of soil.
What is it called when a
farmer plants different
crops in order to use
less nutrients or
different nutrients from
the soil?
a. Terracing
b. crop rotation
c. cover crops
d. contour plowing
• The process of growing
different crops in the
same area in back to
back seasons is called
crop rotation. Crop
rotation helps to
replenish nitrogen,
controls the buildup of
pathogens and pests,
and can improve soil
structure and fertility.
Ice, wind, water, gravity, plants,
and animals are all agents of
a. differential weathering.
b. Oxidation.
c. mechanical weathering.
d. desertification.
• Types of Mechanical
Weathering:
• Exfoliation- process where
sheets of rock peel or
flake away
• Ice wedge- occurs when
water seeps into rocks and
freezes
• Organic activity- roots of
plants and burrowing
animals weather away rock
• Abrasion- collision of rock
with one another resulting
in breaking and wearing
away.
If you increase the surface
area of a rock, how will it
affect the rate at which it
weathers?
a. It will weather more
quickly.
b. It will have no effect
because surface area is
not a factor in weathering.
c. It will weather more
slowly.
d. It will have no effect
because a rock does not
have a surface area.
•
•
•
•
•
Rates of weathering depend on 4
things:
Rock Composition: Igneous and
metamorphic rocks don’t
weather easily; Sedimentary
rocks do.
Amount of Exposure: More
exposure it receives, faster it
will weather; Amount of time
and amount of surface area
exposed is also important
Climate: hot humid climates
means more chemical
weathering; cold climates means
more mechanical weathering.
Topography: The more slope land
has, the more erosion and
weathering will occur.
Which of water’s properties directly
causes mechanical weathering?
A. Water dissolves many minerals.
B. Water can hold heat longer
than soil.
C. Water expands when it freezes.
D. Water can form an acid when
combined with some gases.
• Water, H2O, is a very interesting
substance dues to its many
unique properties.
• Among these properties is its
ability to dissolve almost
anything. This can cause different
types of chemical weathering in
rocks.
• Another property of water that is
even more fascinating is the fact
that the solid form of water is less
dense than the liquid foThis
causes ice to float in water! This
also causes water that is trapped
in rocks to crack those rocks
when it freezes, causing a type of
mechanical weathering.
Which of these factors affects
the rate of weathering?
a. climate
b. chemical composition of the
exposed rock
c. surface area of the exposed
rock
d. all of the above
e. a and c
•
•
•
•
•
Rates of weathering depend on 4 things:
Rock Composition: Igneous and
metamorphic rocks don’t weather
easily; Sedimentary rocks do.
Amount of Exposure: More exposure
it receives, faster it will weather;
Amount of time and amount of
surface area exposed is also
important
Climate: is the MOST influential of the
controls on soil formation. hot humid
climates means more chemical
weathering; cold climates means
more mechanical weathering. Climate
is the most
Topography: The more slope land
has, the more erosion and
weathering will occur.
In a well-developed soil
profile, which horizon is
the uppermost layer?
a. the C horizon
b. the A horizon
c. the B horizon
d. the parent horizon
• O horizon - (leaf litter) organic
matter accumulation and
decomposition. Almost all
organic.
• A horizon (top soil) – zone of
leaching. High organic with
some inorganic rock.
– The dark coloration in the “O” and
“A” horizons is due to organic
material, remains of animals and
plants
• B horizon – (sub soil) zone of
accumulation. More just
weathered rock less organic.
Mostly clay and minerals.
• C horizon – (regolith) weathered
parent material, either rock or
sediments
• R horizon – (bedrock),
unweathered parent material.
In Figure 5-2,
what is the
layer labeled Y
composed of?
a. Humus
b. unweathered
parent
material
c. Topsoil
d. subsoil
•
•
O horizon - (leaf litter)
organic matter
accumulation and
decomposition. Almost
all organic.
A horizon (top soil) –
zone of leaching. High
organic with some
inorganic rock.
–
•
•
•
The dark coloration in the
“O” and “A” horizons is
due to organic
material, remains of
animals and plants
B horizon – (sub soil)
zone of accumulation.
More just weathered
rock less organic. Mostly
clay and minerals.
C horizon – (regolith)
weathered parent
material, either rock or
sediments
R horizon – (bedrock),
unweathered parent
material.
In Figure 5-2,
what layer
makes up the B
horizon?
a. layer X
b. layer W
c. layer Y
d. layer Z
•
•
O horizon - (leaf litter)
organic matter
accumulation and
decomposition. Almost
all organic.
A horizon (top soil) –
zone of leaching. High
organic with some
inorganic rock.
–
•
•
•
The dark coloration in the
“O” and “A” horizons is
due to organic
material, remains of
animals and plants
B horizon – (sub soil)
zone of accumulation.
More just weathered
rock less organic. Mostly
clay and minerals.
C horizon – (regolith)
weathered parent
material, either rock or
sediments
R horizon – (bedrock),
unweathered parent
material.
What kind of material is
found in the C horizon
of a soil profile?
A. partially weathered
parent material
B. clay particles
C. hardpan
D. mineral and organic
matter
• O horizon - (leaf litter) organic
matter accumulation and
decomposition. Almost all
organic.
• A horizon (top soil) – zone of
leaching. High organic with
some inorganic rock.
– The dark coloration in the “O” and
“A” horizons is due to organic
material, remains of animals and
plants
• B horizon – (sub soil) zone of
accumulation. More just
weathered rock less organic.
Mostly clay and minerals.
• C horizon – (regolith) weathered
parent material, either rock or
sediments
• R horizon – (bedrock),
unweathered parent material.
Question 99-100
The B horizon is also
called the ____.
a. Topsoil
b. Bedrock
c. Regolith
d. subsoil
• O horizon - (leaf litter) organic
matter accumulation and
decomposition. Almost all
organic.
• A horizon (top soil) – zone of
leaching. High organic with
some inorganic rock.
– The dark coloration in the “O” and
“A” horizons is due to organic
material, remains of animals and
plants
• B horizon – (sub soil) zone of
accumulation. More just
weathered rock less organic.
Mostly clay and minerals.
• C horizon – (regolith) weathered
parent material, either rock or
sediments
• R horizon – (bedrock),
unweathered parent material.