Rocks, weathering and soils

9.Which term describes the process by which rocks break down in their original place without being moved?

10.Which of the following are examples of physical weathering? (Select all that apply.)

11.Weathering involves the breakdown of rock in one place, while erosion involves the transport of broken rock by agents such as water, ice, wind and gravity.

12.In subarctic or alpine environments, which type of weathering is most significant?

13.Which of the following best explains why ice segregation can exert greater pressure than frost wedging?

14.Which statement best explains why weathering is different from erosion?

15.Why does frost wedging usually require the rock to be almost completely saturated with water?

16.Why is ice segregation thought to be a more important mechanism of frost weathering than frost wedging?

17.In which environment is physical weathering likely to be most significant?

18.Which of the following are true about frost wedging? (Select all that apply.)

19.Weathering occurs in situ, meaning on-site with little or no movement of the broken rock.

20.Chemical weathering is usually more important than physical weathering in most environments.

21.Match each weathering term with its correct description.

22.Which rock would be most likely to break down fastest in this experiment?

23.The experiment is testing chemical weathering.

24.A student reads this description of an experiment: 'Two identical pieces of limestone were placed in separate beakers. One beaker contained pure water; the other contained weak acid. Both were kept at the same temperature for one week. The limestone in the acid lost 2.1 g; the limestone in the water lost 0.2 g.' What does this evidence show?

26.A student writes: 'Weathering and erosion are the same thing because both break rocks down.' Which statements correct this misunderstanding? (Select all that apply.)

27.A map shows a granite upland area with many open joints and few trees. This landscape is likely to experience more physical weathering than a lowland clay vale with deep soil and vegetation.

28.Match each weathering process with the correct description.

29.Put the following stages of frost wedging in the correct order.

30.Which rock is more resistant to chemical weathering in this experiment?

31.A student reads a description of a landscape: 'The upland area is made of granite. There are many open joints and little vegetation. The climate has frequent freeze-thaw cycles.' Which type of weathering is most likely to be dominant in this landscape?

32.Which type of rock forms when magma or lava cools and solidifies?

33.Which type of rock forms when sediments are compacted and cemented together over time?

34.Which type of rock forms when existing rocks are changed by heat and/or pressure?

35.Which statement best describes the difference between weathering and erosion?

36.Which of the following is the most important form of physical weathering?

37.Which process involves the widening of cracks or joints in rocks due to the expansion of pore water when it freezes?

38.Which process involves supercooled water migrating to lenses of ice forming within rock?

39.Which type of weathering is most effective when the heated portion of rock is buttressed by surrounding rock, so it can expand in only one direction?

40.Which of the following is an example of biological weathering?

41.What is the collective name for forms of physical weathering caused by the formation of ice within rock outcrops?

42.By what percentage does the volume of water increase when it freezes?

43.Complete the sentence about frost weathering.

44.Complete the sentence about the rock cycle.

45.Complete the sentence about weathering processes.

46.When water freezes, by what percentage does its volume increase?

47.The tensile strength of granite is about 4 megapascals (MPa). Frost wedging can generate a realistic upper limit of 14 MPa. How many times greater is the realistic upper limit than the tensile strength of granite?

48.Ice segregation is most effective when the rock temperature averages between −4 °C and −15 °C. What is the midpoint temperature of this range?

49.Complete the sentence about physical weathering.

50.Complete the sentence about ice segregation.

51.Which type of weathering involves the breakdown of rocks into smaller fragments without chemical change?

52.What is the name of the process where supercooled water migrates to lenses of ice forming within rock?

53.Explain how biological weathering can break down rocks. Give one example.

54.Explain why cracks in rock can increase the rate of weathering.

55.Explain why ice segregation is thought to be a more important mechanism of frost weathering than frost wedging.

56.Explain how thermal fatigue can lead to block disintegration.

57.By what percentage does the volume of water increase when it freezes?

58.When water freezes, by what percentage does its volume increase?

59.The tensile strength of granite is about 4 megapascals (MPa). Frost wedging can generate a realistic upper limit of 14 MPa. How many times greater is the realistic upper limit than the tensile strength of granite?

60.Ice segregation is most effective when the rock temperature averages between −4 °C and −15 °C. What is the midpoint temperature of this range?