Forces that Shaped the Earth

Vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes about geological processes influencing Earth's surface.

Weathering

The process of physical disintegration and chemical decomposition of solid rock materials at or near the earth’s surface.

Mechanical Weathering

A process wherein rock breaks into small fragments or pieces without altering its chemical composition.

Chemical Weathering

The breaking down of rocks by changing their chemical composition, making them more easily broken down by physical weathering.

Diastrophism

Refers to all movement of the solid parts of the earth, including warping, folding, or bending and breaking of the earth’s crust.

Tectonic Forces

Forces that originate within the earth and obtain energy from moving liquid, heat, expansion, and contraction.

Erosion

The transfer of soil from one place to another due to natural agents like water, wind, and ice.

Subduction

A process by which one tectonic plate is thrust downward into the mantle, causing volcanic activity.

Soil Profile

The layers of soil, which include the uppermost layer rich in organic matter, middle layers containing minerals, and the bedrock below.

Gravity

A force that affects the movement of rocks and soil, contributing to processes like landslides.

Frost Action

The physical breakdown of rock caused by the repeated freezing of water within cracks, leading to widening cracks and disintegration.