Deck 10: Weathering and Mass Wasting

Question 1

Which of the following is an example of physical weathering?

A)frost wedging
B)dissolution
C)oxidation
D)all of these
E)none of these

Answer 1

A

Question 2

In order for material to move downslope, it must overcome which of the following forces?

A)particle cohesion
B)friction
C)inertia of materials
D)all of these
E)none of these

Answer 2

D

Question 3

What is the primary difference between and earthflow and mudflow?

A)Mudflows move more quickly than earthflows.
B)Earthflows do not involve soil saturation.
C)Mudflows only occur in arid environments.
D)Earthflows move more rapidly than mudflows.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

A _______ is a fracture in the rock in which no appreciable movement has occurred.

A)wedge
B)soil
C)slump
D)joint
E)bedload

Question 5

Flowing regolith that is not saturated with water is known as a _______.

A)landslide
B)slurry
C)slump
D)creep
E)gradient

Question 6

Which of the following is most critical to weathering processes?

A)salt
B)oxygen
C)water
D)nitrogen
E)lava

Question 7

The figure below shows an example of _______.

A)oxidation
B)dissolution
C)root wedging
D)frost wedging
E)exfoliation

Question 8

Sandstone pillars such as the ones in the figure below are features that can be found in the southwestern US, but are unusual in the southeastern US. Which of the following explanations best account for this?

A)There is no sedimentary rock in the southeastern US
B)Climatic differences dictate the form and nature of landforms
C)Buttes in the southeastern US have been cleared for human development
D)Natural forces of landscape change are different
E)none of these

Question 9

. Where rock is subject to great pressure from overlying and surrounding rocks, the associated squeezing and twisting as a result of tectonic forces causes what?

A)faults
B)crystals
C)sedimentary layers
D)joints

Question 10

Weathered rock moves down the slope into a collection of degraded debris at the base is called:

A)Weathering
B)Mass Wasting
C)Colluvium
D)Creep

Question 11

All the processes that physically disintegrate or chemically decompose a rock at or near the Earth's surface is called?

A)erosion
B)weathering
C)oxidation
D)mass movement

Question 12

Which of the following is a form of chemical weathering?

A)oxidation
B)frost wedging
C)salt wedging
D)all of the above

Question 13

In the figure below, what type of weathering is being shown?

A)oxidation
B)carbonation
C)root wedging
D)frost wedging
E)sheet jointing

Question 14

A(n)_______ involves and the moderately rapid downhill movement of water-saturated rock or regolith.

A)fall
B)creep
C)slide
D)earthflow

Question 15

The small spaces between mineral grains are called _______.

A)pores
B)flow
C)slump
D)regolith
E)soil

Question 16

_______ is the type of weathering in the figure below.

A)Frost wedging
B)Exfoliation
C)Dissolution
D)Ion exchange
E)Oxidation

Question 17

_______ is the extremely slow downslope granular flow of regolith.

A)solification
B)slump
C)slides
D)creep
E)flow

Question 18

In general, landscapes of steeper relief experience __________ rate(s)of landform change compared with those of lower relief.

A)slower
B)faster
C)the same

Question 19

A type of chemical weathering in which metallic elements in minerals react with dissolved oxygen and water is known as _______.

A)frost wedging
B)oxidation
C)root wedging
D)acid rain
E)ion exchange

Question 20

Chemical weathering is most effective in environments with:

A)high annual rainfall and high mean annual temperatures.
B)low annual rainfall and low mean annual temperatures.
C)low annual rainfall and high mean annual temperatures.
D)high annual rainfall and low mean annual temperatures

Question 21

The splitting of rocks due to the repeated freezing and thawing is known as root wedging.

Question 22

Daily solar heating and cooling can break up exposed bedrock into smaller pieces.

Question 23

Oxidation is a type of physical weathering.

Question 24

The angle of repose is the maximum angle at which debris, sand, or rock of
a given size can rest before the force of gravity causes it to slide downslope.
Ans. True

Question 25

The large boulders in the figure below are an example of mechanical weathering.

Question 26

When regolith on a steep slope is saturated with water and it flows rapidly downslope, it is known as a debris flow.

Question 27

The figure below illustrates a good example of a landslide.

Question 28

The maximum slope angle that allows rock, sand, clay, and debris to stay in place without movement is called:

A)angle of incident
B)gravity
C)downslope erosion
D)angle of repose

Question 29

Niche formations in large sandstone outcrops were utilized by many Native American cultures as shelter and formed as a result of waterfall activity.

Question 30

Physical weathering is the breakdown of rock by mechanical processes that involve chemical alteration.

Question 31

What is required to induce mass movements along the Palos Verdes Hill of Los Angeles, California and other similar developments in steep hillside settings?

A)strong bedrock
B)shallow slopes
C)saturated regolith
D)high thermal insulation
E)expensive housing

Question 32

Which of the following activities can induce mass wasting?

A)building foundations for large buildings
B)strip mining
C)highway construction
D)all of these
E)none of these

Question 33

Dissolution is a good example of mechanical weathering.

Question 34

The most dangerous and spectacular type of downslope movement is called a landslide.

Question 35

Joint planes form as a result of an increase in pressure.

Question 36

The figure below illustrates a good example of a debris flow.

Question 37

The process of large, curved slabs of rocks peeling off from the surface is known as dissolution.

Question 38

When mudflows pick up rocks and boulders, they are called:

A)slide
B)debris flow
C)creep
D)scarification

Question 39

Frost wedging only occurs at high latitudes.

Question 40

The general term for excavations and other land disturbances produced to extract mineral resources is:

A)erosion
B)mudflow
C)scarification
D)none of the above

Question 41

__________ is the process where oxygen and water react with metallic elements in minerals, making the minerals unstable and causing the rock to degrade in strength and eventually crumble into smaller particles.

Question 42

Define weathering and describe the two primary mechanisms involved.

Question 43

_______ involve the rapid sliding of large masses of bedrock on a steep mountain slope or from a high cliff.

Question 44

What role does climate play in weathering?

Question 45

Plants can be responsible for mechanical weathering.

Question 46

_______ is the type of weathering is illustrated in the figure below.

Question 47

Discuss the difference between earthflow and creep.

Question 48

A _______ is any mass-wasting process that involves a flowing motion of regolith containing water and/or air in its pores.

Question 49

Explain the primary difference between mechanical weathering and chemical weathering?

Question 50

Weathering of slate tombstones occurs as a result of dissolution.

Question 51

Explain the similarities and differences between root wedging and frost wedging.

Question 52

The process where minerals react chemically with water is called _______.

Question 53

Explain the similarity and a difference between a flow and a slide.

Question 54

__________typically occur in parallel and intersecting planes.

Question 55

_______ is the process of ice splitting rocks during freeze/thaw cycles.

Question 56

The form of chemical weathering in the figure below is known as ________.