Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Table of Contents
Chapter Preview
2.1 Minerals and Rocks
2.2 Rocks and Weathering
2.3 How Soil Forms
2.4 Soil Conservation
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Chapter Preview Questions
1. The processes that form and change rocks on Earth are
parts of the
a. nitrogen cycle.
b. water cycle.
c. carbon cycle.
d. rock cycle.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Chapter Preview Questions
1. The processes that form and change rocks on Earth are
parts of the
a. nitrogen cycle.
b. water cycle.
c. carbon cycle.
d. rock cycle.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Chapter Preview Questions
2. Freezing and thawing and the growth of plant roots are
processes that
a. cause igneous rocks to form.
b. cause volcanoes to erupt.
c. break rocks into smaller pieces.
d. combine minerals to form rocks.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Chapter Preview Questions
2. Freezing and thawing and the growth of plant roots are
processes that
a. cause igneous rocks to form.
b. cause volcanoes to erupt.
c. break rocks into smaller pieces.
d. combine minerals to form rocks.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Chapter Preview Questions
3. Which of these plays the largest role in reshaping the land?
a. ice.
b. moving water.
c. wind.
d. gravity.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Chapter Preview Questions
3. Which of these plays the largest role in reshaping the land?
a. ice.
b. moving water.
c. wind.
d. gravity.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Chapter Preview Questions
4. Which of these recycles matter from dead plants and animals?
a. decomposers.
b. producers.
c. herbivores.
d. carnivores.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Chapter Preview Questions
4. Which of these recycles matter from dead plants and animals?
a. decomposers.
b. producers.
c. herbivores.
d. carnivores.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
How does the weathering of rock help reshape Earth’s
topography and form soil?
Suppose that you carve a model
of a mountain in a bar of soap.
Then, you leave the model
outside in the rain overnight.
Based on what you think would
happen to the model, predict how
rock on Earth’s surface might
change over time.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Suffixes
Suffix
-ation
Meaning
Part of Speech
Key Terms
Process of,
action of
Noun
Conservation,
oxidation, rotation
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Suffixes
Suffix
-sion
Meaning
Part of Speech
Key Terms
Process of,
action of
Noun
Abrasion, erosion
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Suffixes
Suffix
-ing
Meaning
Showing
continuous action
Part of Speech
Key Terms
Noun or adjective
Melting, plowing,
smelting, weathering,
wedging
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Apply It!
Complete the sentences with the correct words.
1. People who
electricity are contribuing to energy
.
conserve/conservation
2. Rain, snow, and other types of
Earth´s surface.
weather, weathering
contribute to the
of
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
End of Chapter
Preview
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Section 1:
Minerals and Rocks
What is a mineral?
What are the three major groups of rock, and
how do they form through the rock cycle?
How are minerals and rocks used and
processed?
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Sedimentary rocks form over millions of years as particles of
sediment are deposited and then squeezed and glued
together.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Rocks change continuously through the rock cycle.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Rocks change continuously through the rock cycle.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Rocks change continuously through the rock cycle.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Rocks change continuously through the rock cycle.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Rocks change continuously through the rock cycle.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Rocks and the Rock Cycle
Rocks change continuously through the rock cycle.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Rock Cycle Activity
Click the Active Art button to open a browser window and
access Active Art about the rock cycle.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Producing Metals From Minerals
In the process of
smelting, an ore is mixed
with other substances
and then melted to
separate the useful metal
from the other elements
the ore contains.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
End of Section:
Minerals and Rocks
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Section 2:
Rocks and Weathering
How do weathering and erosion affect Earth’s
surface?
What are the causes of mechanical
weathering and chemical weathering?
What determines how fast weathering occurs?
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Mechanical Weathering
Mechanical weathering affects all rock on Earth’s surface.
Release of Pressure As rock erodes, release of pressure
causes the outside of the rock to crack and flake off.
Freezing and Thawing When water freezes in a crack in a
rock, it expands and makes the crack bigger.
Animal Actions Burrowing animals like this mole can
loosen and break apart rocks and soil.
Plant Growth Roots of plants enter cracks in rocks, forcing
the cracks farther apart.
Abrasion Rock particles carried by wind, water, or ice and
wear away exposed rock surfaces like sandpaper on wood.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Chemical Weathering
As weathering breaks apart rock, the surface
area exposed to weathering increases.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Which Weathered Faster?
The graph shows the rate of
weathering for two identical
pieces of limestone that
weathered in different locations.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Which Weathered Faster?
Reading Graphs:
What does the x-axis of the
graph represent?
Time in years
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Which Weathered Faster?
Reading Graphs:
What does the y-axis of the
graph represent?
The thickness of stone lost to
weathering
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Which Weathered Faster?
Reading Graphs:
How much thickness did
Stone A lose in 1,000 years?
How much thickness did
Stone B lose in the same
period?
Stone A lost about 8.5
millimeters; Stone B lost
slightly more than 4
millimeters.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Which Weathered Faster?
Drawing Conclusions:
Which stone weathered at a
faster rate?
Stone A weathered at a faster
rate.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Which Weathered Faster?
Inferring:
Since the two identical pieces
of limestone weathered at
different rates, what can you
infer caused the difference in
their rates of weathering?
They were exposed to
different climate conditions.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
More on Weathering
Click the PHSchool.com button for an
activity about weathering.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
End of Section:
Weathering and Rocks
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Section 3:
How Soil Forms
What is soil made of, and how does it form?
How do scientists classify soils?
What is the role of plants and animals in soil
formation?
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
What Is Soil?
Loam, a type of soil, is made
up of air, water, and organic
matter as well as materials
from weathered rock.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
What Is Soil?
Soil particles range in size from gravel to clay particles too
small to be seen by the unaided eye. The sand, silt, and clay
shown here have been enlarged.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
The Process of Soil Formation
Soil forms as rock is broken down by weathering and mixes
with other materials on the surface. Soil is constantly being
formed wherever bedrock is exposed.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Soil Layers Activity
Click the Active Art button to open a browser window and
access Active Art about soil layers.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Soil Types
Soil pH affects plants’ ability to take up nutrients from the
soil. It also affects the color of hydrangea flowers.
pH 5.0
Blue hydrangea
pH 6.0
Pink hydrangea
Most
acidic
0
1
Most
basic
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
pH Scale
9
10
11
12
13
14
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Living Organisms in Soil
Some soil organisms make humus, the material that makes
soil fertile. Other soil organisms mix the soil and make
spaces in it for air and water.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
End of Section:
How Soil Forms
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Section 4:
Soil Conservation
Why is fertile soil considered a nonrenewable
resource?
How can soils lose its value?
What are some ways that soil can be
conserved?
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Soil Damage and- Loss
Wind erosion is one cause of soil
loss. For example, wind erosion
contributed to the Dust Bowl on the
Great Plains. The Dust Bowl ruined
farmland in western Oklahoma and
parts of the surrounding states.
Wind blew dry particles of soil into
great clouds of dust that traveled
thousands of kilometers.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
Links on Soil Conservation
Click the SciLinks button for links on soil conservation.
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
End of Section:
Soil Conservation
Chapter 2 Weathering and Soil
QuickTake Quiz
Click to start quiz.