Surface Processes
Tiny fragments of rock.
Sediment
The process where sediment is carried from one location to another.
Erosion
The crust is made up of fifteen large pieces called _______________ ________.
When a substance heats up, what happens to its density?
The density decreases.
What are the three types of rocks we covered in our unit?
Sedimentary, Igneous, Metamorphic
The process of rock being worn down over a long period of time.
Weathering
Deposition
The thickest layer of Earth's interior.
Mantle
In which layer of Earth do you find the convection currents that move tectonic plates?
Mantle
Where do metamorphic rocks form?
Deep underground.
What two processes are necessary for sedimentary rocks to form?
Compaction and Cementation
What is a sedimentary rock?
A rock formed from sediment being compressed over a very long period of time.
Which layers of Earth's interior are liquid?
Lower mantle and outer core.
How is a metamorphic rock formed?
The parent rock is transformed by intense heat and pressure over a very long period of time in Earth's interior.
What are the two classifications of igneous rocks?
Intrusive and Extrusive.
Explain the process of cementation.
Small grains of minerals gather between sediment grains. They bind together and, after water is evaporated out, the sediments are "glued" together by these minerals.
Name three different land formations that can be created from weathering and erosion.
Possible answers: canyons, river deltas, sand dunes, river banks/rivers meandering, cliffs
Which parts of Earth and its interior are solid?
Crust, upper mantle, and inner core.
What is a key characteristic of a sedimentary rock?
They almost always have visible layers.
Explain oxidation.
Oxidation is a type of chemical weathering where a substance is broken down by oxygen and water combining and creating a new substance, like rust.
Name AND Explain the 3 types of weathering we discussed in class.
Physical: caused by physical contact between the rock and whatever is breaking it (examples: rain, two rocks colliding, wind)
Chemical: caused by a chemical reaction between the rock and something else (example: rusting or oxidation)
Biological: rocks broken down by living things (examples: animal trails caused by movement of deer, tree roots digging into solid rock and breaking it down)
What is the difference between lava and magma?
Magma is liquid rock below Earth's surface. Lava is liquid rock that has reached Earth's surface from the mantle.
Explain how convection works in Earth's interior.
The inner core is the heat source that drives the process of convection. Heat causes the magma in the outer core to become less dense and rise up into the mantle. The cooler magma there is denser, so it falls below the rising magma. The cycle repeats, causing convection currents in the mantle.
The Earth was, at one point, completely covered in a layer of basalt, a type of igneous rock formed from hardened lava. Why didn't our surface stay this way?
Answer should include vocabulary words such as:
Weathering, erosion, heat & pressure, parent rock, convection