Rock Types
What type of rock is formed from cooling and solidification of magma or lava?
Igneous rock.
What is the main difference between chemical and physical weathering?
Chemical weathering changes the chemical composition of rocks, while physical weathering breaks them down into smaller pieces without changing their composition.
What happens to sediment when a stream slows down?
The stream deposits sediment.
What is a glacier?
A large mass of ice and snow that moves slowly over land.
What is the process called when heat and pressure change a sedimentary rock into a metamorphic rock?
Metamorphism
Which type of rock forms when sediments are compacted and cemented together over time?
Sedimentary rock.
Which weathering process involves water freezing and expanding in rock cracks?
Frost wedging (a type of physical weathering).
How does the velocity of water affect the size of the sediment it can carry?
Faster water can carry larger sediment, while slower water can only carry smaller particles.
What is a moraine?
A ridge of sediment deposited by a glacier.
Which process in the rock cycle involves rocks breaking down into smaller pieces due to weathering and then being transported by wind or water?
Erosion
What type of metamorphic rock is formed from limestone under heat and pressure?
Marble
How does acid rain contribute to chemical weathering?
Acid rain reacts with minerals in rocks, causing them to break down or dissolve.
What is a meander in a river, and how does it form?
A meander is a bend in a river formed by erosion on the outer bank and deposition on the inner bank.
How do glaciers shape valleys?
Glaciers erode valleys, creating U-shaped valleys with steep sides.
What type of rock forms when magma cools and solidifies beneath the Earth's surface?
Intrusive igneous rock
How does the cooling rate of magma affect the crystal size in igneous rocks?
Slow cooling results in larger crystals, and rapid cooling forms smaller crystals.
How do plant roots contribute to physical weathering of rocks?
Plant roots grow into cracks in rocks, exerting pressure and causing the rocks to break apart.
What is the difference between erosion and deposition?
Erosion involves the removal of soil and rock, while deposition involves the laying down of sediment in a new location.
What is the main difference between the way glaciers and rivers erode the landscape?
Glaciers erode by scraping and grinding the land, while rivers erode by carrying water and sediment, cutting through rock to form valleys.
What is the name of the process in which sediments are pressed together over time to form sedimentary rock?
Compaction and Cementation
What is the process by which an igneous rock transforms into a sedimentary rock over millions of years?
Weathering, erosion, deposition, and lithification (compaction & cementation)
What is hydrolysis, and how does it contribute to chemical weathering?
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction between minerals in the rock and water, often causing minerals to break down into clay or other compounds.
How does a delta form, and what role does deposition play in its creation?
A delta forms when a river slows as it enters a body of water, depositing sediment to create a fan-shaped landform.
When a glacier melts, it can leave behind large blocks of ice that eventually form kettle lakes. What would happen if sediment didn’t build up around the ice blocks?
Without sediment around the ice blocks, the water from the melting ice would flow away, and a kettle lake would not form.
How does the formation of a sedimentary rock differ from the formation of an igneous rock?
Sedimentary rock forms from the compaction and cementation of sediments, while igneous rock forms from the cooling and solidifying of molten lava or magma.