Book G Chapter 2 Lesson 2 – REVIEW ANSWERS

1. What are the three factors that affect how fast weathering happens? (p.38)

The three factors that affect the rate of weathering are: (p 38)
* the composition of the rock – what the rock is made of
* climate
* elevation

2. Why does is take less time for small rocks to wear away than it does for large rocks
to wear away?
(see p. 39)

Remember the picture in our notes of the large rock and the same rock broken into many pieces. This
is the basic concept that will help explain this answer. Most weathering takes place on the surface of a
rock, and one large rock has a set amount of surface area. Now imagine breaking up that rock into a
bunch of smaller pieces of rock – you have just INCREASED the surface area of that rock! There are
more surfaces to weather!! (shape of rock)

A smaller rock also has less volume – a larger rock has more volume. When you compare surface
area with volume – a rock that has a large volume will take longer to weather – there is more of the
‘stuff’ present that makes up the rock. A smaller rock has a smaller volume – there is less ‘stuff’ that
makes up the rock. (size of rock)

3. Imagine a rock on a beach and a rock on the side of a mountain. How would the
factors that control weathering be different for these two rocks?

On a beach, a rock may be exposed to agents of weathering that can include both mechanical and
chemical processes. A rock on a beach may be weathered by abrasion from wind or water-depending
where the rock is on the beach. The rock may also be weathered chemically by water, or even exposed
to chemical weathering due to acid precipitation. If the rock has iron in it, it may also chemically
weather by oxidation. Animals or even ice wedging may also weather this rock.

The rock on the side of the mountain will be exposed to some different agents of weathering. Rocks
located at high elevations will weather quicker than rocks on the ground because at higher elevations,
winds are stronger, temperatures are more extreme, and there is also an increase in precipitation.
The rock located on the side of a mountain also has an increased chance of being weathered by
abrasion due to gravity – there is a good chance the rock will fall down the side of the mountain.
Acids in living things, ice wedging, abrasion by water and even animals may also weather rocks on the
side of a mountain

4. Two rivers run into the ocean. One river is very long, and the other river is short.
Which river probably drops the smallest rock pieces near the ocean?

The longer river will drop the smallest rock pieces in the ocean due to the length of the river and the
amount of time a rock is exposed to the mechanical weathering of abrasion by water. A rock traveling
along the bottom of a very long river will be exposed to much more abrasion than a rock that is
traveling along a short river.
5. How does climate affect the rate of weathering?

Climate can affect the rate of weathering in many different ways. In climates that are very hot and
humid, oxidation – a type of chemical weathering – increases. Climates that are hot but dry will not
have oxidation rates as high as the hot and humid climate.

The amount of water as well as temperature can also affect rates of weathering. A climate that has
significant amounts of water will have increased weathering rates due to abrasion by
water(mechanical) as well as chemical weathering due to water. If there is water present, and
temperatures fluctuate between freezing and thawing, weathering rates will increase due to an
increase in the occurrence of ice wedging.

6. Why does the peak of a mountain weather faster than rocks at the bottom of a
mountain?

Elevation can increase the rates of weathering. At higher elevations, wind speeds increase,
precipitation amounts increase, and temperature extremes can vary. These conditions can increase
the rate of weathering of rocks, compared to the rocks at the bottom of a mountain. Also, abrasion by
gravity can also speed up rocks that are at the top of a mountain – when the rocks fall, they weather
faster!

7. Why do the Rocky Mountains have jagged, pointed peaks while the Appalachian
Mountains have a more rounded and smooth appearance?

The difference in the appearance of the two mountain ranges is a direct result of the age of each
mountain range. The Rocky Mountains are much younger than the Appalachian Mountains- the
Rockies are between 55 and 80 million years old while the Appalachian Mountains are between 300
and 500 million years old. Since the Rockies have not been around as long as the Appalachians, the
Rockies have not had as much time as the Appalachians to experience weathering. Since the
Appalachians have been on the Earth for about 400 million more years, the Appalachians have
experienced much more weathering than the Rockies. This explains the drastic differences
between the two mountain ranges.