Compare and contrast

mechanical and chemical

weathering.
Explain how weathering affects
Earths surface.

Define

weathering

surface
processes that
break down
rock into small
pieces called
sediment

Explain why over long periods

of time, weathering wears
mountains down to rolling hills

Rocks at the tops of mountains

are broken down by
weathering, and sediment is
moved downhill by gravity,
water, and ice.

Describe

mechanical
weathering

Physical
processes that
break rock into
fragments with
the same
chemical makeup
and
characteristics as
the original rock

Identify what
can cause

mechanical
weathering

growing plants
burrowing
animals
expanding ice

Speculate how damage to a

sidewalk, due to growing plants,
could be avoided

Plant trees farther away from

the sidewalk. Remove large
roots. Build sidewalks farther
away from mature trees.

Identify what
happens in

ice
wedging.

water enters
cracks in rock
water freezes
and expands
expanding ice
breaks rocks
apart

Explain why
size is
important to
weathering
rock.

Surface area Small pieces of

rock have more

surface area
than do larger
pieces, which
makes them
weather faster.
Picture CONT

Explain why
size is
important to
weathering
rock.

Describe

chemical
weathering

Chemical
reactions
dissolve the
minerals in
rocks or
change them
into different
minerals.

Explain how

carbonic
acid weathers
rock.

Carbonic acid,
formed from
water reacting
with carbon
dioxide, causes
calcite in
limestone to
dissolve (which
could form
caves).

Explain how

kaolinite
clay forms.

It forms when
natural acids
react with
feldspar in
granite and
other rocks.
Clay is an end
product of
weathering.

Explain why

groundwat
er is acidic.

As water seeps
through soil, it
reacts with
carbon dioxide
in soil and air
to form
carbonic acid.

Define

oxidation

Chemical
process that
occurs when
iron is exposed
to oxygen in
the air

Define

climate
Cold climate

Warm, wet

climate

Pattern of
weather that
occurs over time
Mechanical

weathering more
rapid in cold
climates
Chemical
weathering more
rapid in warm,
wet climates

Photo credits
http://www.treknature.com/gallery/Asia/Cambodi
a/photo111875.htm
http://thisoldearth.net/Geology_Online-1_Subch
apters.cfm?Chapter=5&Row=2
http://teach.albion.edu/jjn10/physical-weathering/
http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~pgore/geology/geo101/w
eather.htm
http://www.studyblue.com/notes/note/n/earth-an-i
ntroduction-to-physical-geology-ch-6/deck/394779
6
http://w3.salemstate.edu/~lhanson/gls210/gls21
0_weath1.htm
http://soil99.wikispaces.com/Mechanical+Weather
ing
http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~cfjps/1300/weathering.h
tml

Photo credits
http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~cfjps/1300/weat
hering.html
http://sciencerocksav.webs.com/chemical
weathering.htm
http://www.metalsb2b.com/b2b/plastic_pipes/2/
http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/feb/pa
pr/speleothems.html
http://www.scienceclarified.com/everyday
/Real-Life-Chemistry-Vol-2/OxidationReduction-Reactions.html