Physical Weathering

Description

GCSE Geography (Geology) Flashcards on Physical Weathering, created by Alex C on 28/12/2015.
Alex C
Flashcards by Alex C, updated more than 1 year ago
Alex C
Created by Alex C over 8 years ago
2
0

Resource summary

Question Answer
Physical weathering = Rock broken up in situ. Simply smaller bits of the same rock. No change to chemical makeup.
Freeze-thaw 1) Water gets trapped in joints/bedding planes & freezes.
Freeze-thaw 2) Expands (by 9%), putting pressure on the rock.
Freeze-thaw 3) If this happens repeatedly, the rock will weaken & shatter into angular fragments. e.g. Snowdon
Freeze-thaw 4) These fragments are deposited as scree.
Exfoliation = Happens in area with hot/dry climates.
Exfoliation 1) Heat causes outer layers to heat faster than inner layers.
Exfoliation 2) Expansion causes cracks parallel with the surface.
Exfoliation 3) Cooling causes contraction, producing cracks at right angles to the surface.
Exfoliation 4) Pressure on the lower rock is released, causing surface crack.
Exfoliation 5) Top layer eventually peels off.
Show full summary Hide full summary

Similar

Types of Rocks
lloyd.richards98
Geography Coastal Zones Flashcards
Zakiya Tabassum
Using GoConqr to study geography
Sarah Egan
GCSE Geography - Causes of Climate Change
Beth Coiley
Characteristics and Climate of a hot desert
Adam Collinge
Favela Bairro Project- Squatter Settlement case study Changing urban environments
a a
Economic migrates in the EU (Poland to UK migration)
a a
Coastal Zone Glossary
Clare Magor
Water World - Hydrological Cyle Key Terms
Nikki Azevedo
Population Growth
Adam Collinge
Water on Land Keywords
Adrian Ridley