Lesson 1 Reading Guide - Vocab

1. Weathering • weathering • mechanical weathering • chemical weathering • oxidation Lesson 1 Reading Guide - Vocab

2. Weathering and Its Effects • The mechanical and chemical processes that change objects on Earth’s surface over time are called weathering. • Over thousands of years, weathering can break rock into smaller and smaller pieces, such as sand, silt, and clay. Lesson 1-1

3. Mechanical Weathering • When physical processes naturally break rocks into smaller pieces,mechanical weatheringoccurs. • The chemical makeup of a rock stays the same during mechanical weathering. • Mechanical weathering can be caused by ice wedging, abrasion, plants, and animals. Lesson 1-2

4. Lesson 1-2

5. Chemical Weathering • Chemical weatheringchanges the materials that are part of a rock into new materials. • These granite obelisks show how chemical weathering can affect some rock. Dr. Marli Miller/Getty Images Lesson 1-3

6. Chemical Weathering(cont.) • Water is important in chemical weathering because most substances dissolve in water. • The process of dissolving breaks up the minerals in the rock into small pieces. The small pieces mix with water to form a solution and are washed away from the rock. • Acids are also agents of chemical weathering and cause more chemical weathering than pure water does. Lesson 1-3

7. Chemical Weathering(cont.) • Oxidationcombines the element oxygen with other elements or molecules. • The product of oxidation is called an oxide. Lesson 1-3

8. What affects weathering rates? • The environment helps determine the rate of weathering. • Mechanical weathering occurs fastest in locations that have a lot of temperature changes. • Chemical weathering is fastest in warm, wet places. • The type of rock being weathered also affects the rate of weathering and determines what kinds of products result. Lesson 1-4

9. Which term refers to what happens when physical processes naturally break rocks into smaller pieces? A. chemical weathering B. mechanical weathering C. oxidation D. ice wedging Chapter Review – MC1

10. What is the product of oxidation? A. oxygen B. an oxide C. acid D. iron Chapter Review – MC2

11. Where does chemical weathering occur fastest? A. cool, dry places B. places with a lot of temperature changes C. warm, wet places D. none of these Chapter Review – MC3

12. Which term refers to changes in the materials that are part of a rock into new materials? A. mechanical weathering B. abrasion C. chemical weathering D. ice wedging Chapter Review – STP1

13. Which of these can cause mechanical weathering? A. ice wedging B. abrasion C. plants D. all of the above Chapter Review – STP2

14. Which of these occurs fastest in locations that have a lot of temperature changes? A. mechanical weathering B. oxidation C. chemical weathering D. none of these Chapter Review – STP3