| Term | Definition |
|---|
| weathering | The chemical and physical processes that break down rock at Earth's surface. |
| chemical weathering | The type of weathering that breaks down rock through chemical changes. The agents include water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, living organisms, and acid rain. |
| mechanical weathering | The type of weathering in which rock is physcially broken into smaller pieces. This can be done by freezing and thawing, release of pressure, growth of plants, actions of animals and abrasion. |
| ice wedging | The process that splits rocks when water seeps into cracks, then freezes and expands. |
| permeable | A characteristic of a material that is full of tiny, connected air spaces that water can seep through. |
| erosion | The process by which water, ice, wind or gravity moves weathered rock and soil. |
| abrasion | The grinding away of rock by other rock particles carried in water, ice, or wind. |
| oxidation | The process where iron combines with oxygen in the presence of water. Rust is a product of oxidation. |
Combine with other sets
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace
!