Science Study Guide

Glacial Striations

Long, parallel grooves left on bedrock by glaciers as they move and scrape the ground.

Glacial Till

Unsorted mixture of sediment left behind by glaciers, ranging from clay particles to large boulders.

Glacial Erratic

A rock that has been carried by a glacier and deposited in an area with a different geology.

U-Shaped Valley

A valley shaped like a 'U' created by glacial erosion, featuring broad flat floors and steep vertical walls.

Plucking

A process where glaciers freeze onto rocks and pull them out of the ground as they move.

Abrasion

The grinding effect of rocks stuck in ice against the ground, similar to using sandpaper.

Moraines

Ridges or mounds of till left behind at the edges or front of a glacier.

Weathering

The process of breaking down rocks in place, either physically or chemically.

Frost Wedging

A type of weathering where water enters rock cracks, freezes, expands, and causes the rock to break.

Chemical Weathering

Weathering that involves the chemical breakdown of minerals in rocks, often leading to rust or other changes.

Infiltration

The process of water soaking into the ground through the soil and rock.

Runoff

Water that flows over the ground surface rather than being absorbed into the ground.

Lithification

The process of turning sediments into solid rock through compaction and cementation.

Clastic Sedimentary Rock

Rocks formed from the physical pieces of other rocks that have been transported and cemented together.

Biological Sedimentary Rock

Rocks formed from the remains of living organisms, such as shells and plant material.

Metamorphic Rock

Rocks that have been changed from their original state due to heat and pressure.

Foliated Metamorphic Rock

Metamorphic rocks characterized by visible bands or layers of minerals.

Non-Foliated Metamorphic Rock

Metamorphic rocks that do not have distinct layers or bands, often appearing more massive.

Intrusive Igneous Rock

Igneous rocks formed from magma cooling slowly underground, leading to large crystals.

Extrusive Igneous Rock

Igneous rocks formed from lava cooling quickly on the surface, resulting in small or no crystals.

Obsidian

A type of extrusive igneous rock that cooled so quickly that crystals didn't have time to form.

Porosity

The measure of how much empty space is in a material, affecting how much water it can hold.

Permeability

The ability of a material to allow liquids or gases to pass through it.

Evaporation

The process of liquid water turning into vapor due to heat from the sun.

Condensation

The process of water vapor cooling and turning back into liquid, forming clouds.

Precipitation

Water falling from clouds to the ground as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Erosion

The process by which rocks and soil are removed from their original location and transported elsewhere.

Deposition

The process in which material is laid down or deposited after being transported.

Gradient

The slope of land that affects the speed of flowing water.

Velocity

The speed of water flow, which influences erosion and sediment transport.