Download Pay close attention to the weathering powerpoint and fill out these

What is weathering?
Physical/Mechanical Weathering:
Abrasion
___________________________
 Water seeps into small
cracks in rocks.
 When the water
freezes it expands
creating great pressure.
 The crack widens and
allows water to seep
deeper into the rock.
___________________________
• Rocks formed deep in
the Earth are made
under high pressure.
• When the pressure is
released the rocks
expand & crack.
• May also be caused by
alternate heating and
cooling of rocks by
weather conditions.
Gravity
_______________________
o Tiny root hairs seek out small cracks
and pits in rock.
o Once the root hairs find a place they
grow and expand.
o The expansion causes great pressure
and cracks the rock.
Chemical Weathering:
Carbonation
Oxidation
Biological Weathering:
Rate of Weathering:
Acid Rain
Hydrolysis
Plant Acids
Let’s Practice!
Match each weathering term to the examples. <We have talked about most of
them.> See if you can figure the rest out! Then sort the types of weathering.
Frost Action _________
A. Feldspar turns into clay
Plant acids _________
B. Blurred inscription on grave markers
Hydrolysis _________
C. Carbonic acid dissolves rock
Abrasion _________
D. Large sheets of rock break away from
outcropping
Gravity _________
E. Red soil or rocks
Sulfuric Acid _________
F. Formation of potholes in winter
Oxidation _________
G. Rocks falling from high places
Organic activity _________
H. Lichens growing on rocks
Wetting & drying _________
I. Drought causes soil to crack
Carbonation _________
J. Rounded pebbles in a stream bed
Exfoliation _________
K. Lifted sections of sidewalk along tree
lined streets
Mechanical Weathering
Chemical Weathering
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________