Download Chapter 7 – Weathering and Erosion

Chapter 7 – Weathering and Soil
Section 7-1: Weathering Study Guide

Weathering
The breaking down of rock due to surface processes like plants, animals,
air, and water, is called ________________________.

Weathering _____________ rock into smaller pieces such as
_____________, ______________, and _________________.

These smaller pieces of rock are called ___________________.

Over millions of years, weathering has changed Earth’s
___________________.
Mechanical
Weathering

There are __________ different types of weathering.

______________ ______________ occurs when rocks are broken apart
by _______________ processes.

The _________________ makeup of the rock stays the same; each
fragment has the same characteristics of the _________________ rock.

The roots of ________________ grow in the cracks of rocks and
_______________ the cracks.

Burrowing _________________ loosen sediment and bring it to the
surface where _______________ can act on it.

___________ _______________ occurs in temperate and cold climates
where water enters cracks in rocks and freezes.
o Water _____________ when it turns to ice, which breaks rocks
apart.
o This process wears down ___________________ and causes
_________________ in roads.
o __________________ weathering breaks rocks into smaller
pieces. These smaller pieces have more _________________
______________ than the original rock, and more rock is
exposed to weathering.
Chemical
Weathering

_______________ _________________ occurs when ______________
reactions dissolve the __________________ in rocks or
_______________ them into different minerals.

Chemical
Weathering
Cont.
This changes the _________________ composition of the rock, which
weakens the rock.

________________ _______________ weather rock.
o When water reacts with _____________ ______________ gas in
the air or soil, carbonic acid forms. (Found in soft drinks)
o Carbonic acid _______________ calcite, the main mineral in
______________________. This forms _________________.
o Feldspar, found in ___________________, is weathered to form
__________________ clay in soils.

Roots and decaying plants give off ________________ ___________
that dissolve the minerals in rocks.

________________ causes __________________ weathering.
o ___________________occurs when materials are exposed to
oxygen and water.
o ______________ forms when materials containing _________
are exposed to water and oxygen in the air.
o Oxidation gives some rock layers a ____________ color.
Climate

_______________ affects the rate of weathering.

Climate is the pattern of ________________ that occurs in a particular
area over many _________________.

______________ weathering is more rapid where ___________ and
_____________ are frequent.

_________________ weathering is more rapid in ____________, wet
climates..
Rock Type


_____________ ___________ also affects the rate of weathering in a
particular climate.
In wet climates, _____________ weathers more rapidly than
_________________.