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Quiz Weathering: Friday 11-8-13
VOCABULARY:
Weathering - the process by which rock materials are broken down by the action of physical or chemical
processes
Mechanical Weathering - The breakdown of rock into smaller pieces by physical means
Abrasion - the grinding and wearing away of rock surfaces through the mechanical action of other rock or
sand particles
Chemical Weathering - the process by which rocks break down as a result of chemical reactions
Acid Precipitation - rain, sleet, or snow that contains a high concentration of acids
Differential Weathering - the process by which softer, less weather resistant rocks wear away and leave a
harder, more weather resistant rock behind
Soil - a loose mixture of rock fragments, organic materials, water, and air that can support the growth of
vegetation.
Parent Rock - A rock formation that is the source of soil
Bedrock - the layer of rock beneath soil
Soil Texture - the soil quality that is based on the proportions of soil particles
Soil Structure - The arrangement of soil particles
Humus - Dark, organic material formed in soil from the decayed remains of plants and animals
Leaching - the removal of substances that can be dissolved from rock, ore, or layers of soil due to the
passing of water
Soil Conservation - a method to maintain the fertility of the soil by protecting the soil from erosion and
nutrient loss
Erosion - The process by which wind, water, ice, or gravity transports soil and sediment from one location
to another
NOTES:
• Ice wedging is a form of mechanical weathering in which water seeps into rock cracks and then freezes and
expands.
• Wind, water, and gravity cause mechanical weathering by abrasion.
• Animals and plants cause mechanical weathering by turning the soil and breaking apart rocks.
• Water, acids, and air chemically weather rock by weakening the bonds between mineral grains of the rock.
• Hard rocks weather more slowly than softer rocks.
• The more surface area of a rock that is exposed to weathering, the faster the rock will be worn down.
• Chemical weathering occurs faster in warm, humid climates.
• Weathering occurs faster at high elevations because of an increase in ice, rain, and wind.
• Soil is formed from the weathering of bedrock.
• Soil texture affects how soil can be worked for farming and how well water passes through it.
• The ability of soil to provide nutrients so that plants can survive and grow is called soil fertility.
• The pH of a soil influences which nutrients plants can take up from the soil.
• Different climates have different types of soil, depending on the temperature and rainfall.
• Soil is important for plants to grow, for animals to live in, and for water to be stored.
• Soil erosion and soil damage can be prevented by no-till farming, contour plowing, terracing, using cover
crop, and practicing crop rotation.