Question

_______is the breakdown of _______into smaller _______. The breakdown of rocks can happen through physical or _______weathering. _______is a basic breaking of rocks, big _______to _______pieces. There no is change in the _______of rock or _______composition just the size. Physical _______is also called mechanical weathering.

Physical weathering can be caused by _______, ice, _______, and gravity. _______growth, movement of plants and _______, and changes in _______can also cause physical weathering. When water seeps into _______and freezes it _______and results in frost _______. The expansion widens the cracks and over time pieces of _______can break away or the rock can _______.



Temperature _______also causes weathering. Rocks _______in heat and contract in _______. Daily and seasonal changes stress the rock, which then _______and crumbles. Sometimes _______occurs. Exfoliation is the peeling and _______ of an outer layer. The layers fall _______and the rock looks shaggy.

Friction _______away rock through wearing, _______, and rubbing in a process called ______. It happens when rocks _______and rub against each other, helped along by _______or moving water. The rock is smoothed by pieces of rock _______off. Wind can slam sediment into the _______of the rock. _______can tumble rocks through the _______, slamming the rocks together.

Plants and animals also help _______weathering. Roots grow in _______in rocks, widening the cracks. Burrowing _______, such as armadillos, can move soil and _______, which causes weathering. _______breaks down rocks into smaller pieces. The smaller pieces are more easily moved from one location to another by _______from wind and water. _______is the first step in the formation of soil.

Soft rocks _______more quickly than hard rocks. Rocks with more surface area exposed _______down more quickly.

word bank- you may use a word more than once

abrasion
cold
exfoliation
physical
smaller
water
animals
cracks
expand(s)
pieces
split
wears
break(ing)
current
grinding
plant
surface
weathering
changes
erode
hit
popping
temperature
wedging
chemical
erosion
off
rocks(s)
type
wind

Answer 1

Chemical _______breaks down rocks to form _______substances. Instead of just smaller pieces of the same rock, as in _______weathering, the rock _______to form something new. The _______materials in rock are replaced with weaker ones. The newly _______rock can then be broken down more quickly and _______through physical weathering.

Water, _______, and carbon dioxide are important in _______weathering. Hydrolysis is when _______reacts chemically with certain minerals in the _______to produce new substances. When the conditions are wet _______transforms some _______into clay minerals.

Carbonation occurs when _______dioxide combines with water to produce carbonic _______. Rain can become acidic if carbon dioxide is absorbed by the _______water. The _______created by carbonation can _______rocks such as limestone. Underground limestone caves were formed by _______.

Oxidation is the _______reaction of oxygen with _______in rock. Iron oxide, also known as _______, is a common example of oxidation. It occurs when _______and iron combines in the presence of _______. Rust is weaker than iron. Oxidation produces a _______substance than the original.

Living things, such as lichens, can cause _______weathering. _______produce chemicals to break down the _______to be able to grow there. Carbonic _______can be produced when _______and some fungi decay. We know from carbonation that _______acid can dissolve rock.


Carbonation is one method of _______getting into the environment. Another way is _______or snow absorbing sulfur _______and nitrogen oxide. This results in _______precipitation and it is more acidic than normal. Acid _______speeds up chemical _______of rocks.

Physical _______and _______weathering support the other process. When a rock is _______down into smaller _______due to _______weathering there is more _______area available for chemical _______to occur. When a rock is _______due to chemical weathering it is _______for the rock to be broken into _______pieces by physical weathering. A climate that is _______and wet will support _______weathering more than a climate that is cold and _______ (carbonation, hydrolysis, and oxidation all work with water).

Word bank- you may use a word more than once.
acid
chemical
lichens
plants
stronger
weaker
broken
dissolve
new
precipitation
substances
weathering
carbon
Dry
oxide
rain
surface
carbonation
easier
easier
oxygen
rock(s)
warm
carbonic
easily
parts
rust
water
changes
hydrolysis
physical
smaller
weakened

Answer 2

carbonation is one method of what getting into the environment?

Answer 3

A climate that is dry and wet will support _______ weathering more than a climate that is cold and _______ (carbonation, hydrolysis, and oxidation all work with water).

Answer 4

**Weathering** is the breakdown of **rocks** into smaller **pieces**. The breakdown of rocks can happen through physical or **chemical** weathering. **Physical weathering** is a basic breaking of rocks, big **rocks** to **smaller** pieces. There is no change in the **surface** of rock or **chemical** composition, just the size. Physical **weathering** is also called mechanical weathering.

Physical weathering can be caused by **water**, ice, **wind**, and gravity. **Plant** growth, movement of plants and **animals**, and changes in **temperature** can also cause physical weathering. When water seeps into **cracks** and freezes, it **expands** and results in frost **wedging**. The expansion widens the cracks and over time pieces of **rock** can break away or the rock can **split**.

Temperature **changes** also cause weathering. Rocks **expand** in heat and contract in **cold**. Daily and seasonal changes stress the rock, which then **cracks** and crumbles. Sometimes **exfoliation** occurs. Exfoliation is the peeling and **wearing** of an outer layer. The layers fall **off** and the rock looks shaggy.

Friction **wears** away rock through wearing, **grinding**, and rubbing in a process called **abrasion**. It happens when rocks **hit** and rub against each other, helped along by **water** or moving water. The rock is smoothed by pieces of rock **breaking** off. Wind can slam sediment into the **surface** of the rock. **Currents** can tumble rocks through the **water**, slamming the rocks together.

Plants and animals also help **weathering**. Roots grow in **cracks** in rocks, widening the cracks. Burrowing **animals**, such as armadillos, can move soil and **rocks**, which causes weathering. **Erosion** breaks down rocks into smaller pieces. The smaller pieces are more easily moved from one location to another by **water** from wind and water. **Weathering** is the first step in the formation of soil.

Soft rocks **erode** more quickly than hard rocks. Rocks with more surface area exposed **break** down more quickly.

Answer 5

Chemical **weathering** breaks down rocks to form **new** substances. Instead of just smaller pieces of the same rock, as in **physical** weathering, the rock **changes** to form something new. The **stronger** materials in rock are replaced with weaker ones. The newly **weakened** rock can then be broken down more quickly and **easily** through physical weathering.

Water, **carbon**, and carbon dioxide are important in **chemical** weathering. Hydrolysis is when **water** reacts chemically with certain minerals in the **rock** to produce new substances. When the conditions are wet **water** transforms some **rock(s)** into clay minerals.

Carbonation occurs when **carbon** dioxide combines with water to produce carbonic **acid**. Rain can become acidic if carbon dioxide is absorbed by the **rain** water. The **acid** created by carbonation can **dissolve** rocks such as limestone. Underground limestone caves were formed by **carbonation**.

Oxidation is the **chemical** reaction of oxygen with **iron** in rock. Iron oxide, also known as **rust**, is a common example of oxidation. It occurs when **water** and iron combine in the presence of **oxygen**. Rust is weaker than iron. Oxidation produces a **weaker** substance than the original.

Living things, such as lichens, can cause **chemical** weathering. **Lichens** produce chemicals to break down the **rock** to be able to grow there. Carbonic **acid** can be produced when **plants** and some fungi decay. We know from carbonation that **carbonic** acid can dissolve rock.

Carbonation is one method of **getting** into the environment. Another way is **rain** or snow absorbing sulfur **oxides** and nitrogen oxide. This results in **acid** precipitation, and it is more acidic than normal. Acid **precipitation** speeds up chemical **weathering** of rocks.

Physical **weathering** and **chemical** weathering support the other process. When a rock is **broken** down into smaller **parts** due to **physical** weathering, there is more **surface** area available for chemical **weathering** to occur. When a rock is **weakened** due to chemical weathering, it is **easier** for the rock to be broken into **smaller** pieces by physical weathering. A climate that is **warm** and wet will support **chemical** weathering more than a climate that is cold and **dry** (carbonation, hydrolysis, and oxidation all work with water).

Answer 6

Carbonation is one method of **carbon dioxide** getting into the environment. It describes the process where carbon dioxide, when dissolved in water, forms carbonic acid, which can react with minerals in rocks, leading to weathering and the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Answer 7

A climate that is warm and wet will support **chemical** weathering more than a climate that is cold and **dry** (carbonation, hydrolysis, and oxidation all work with water).