Dynamic Earth (EES 1050) Exam 3 Study
Guide 2026 Questions and Answers
Graded A+
What is mass wasting? - Correct answer-The downslope movement of material
under the direct influence of gravity
When does mass wasting occur? - Correct answer-When the gravitational force
acting parallel to a slope exceeds the slope's shear strength
What are the major factors that cause mass wasting? - Correct answer-Slope angle,
weathering and climate, water content, overloading, and removal of vegetation
How are mass movements classified? - Correct answer-Rate of movement, type of
movement, and type of material
What are rockfalls? - Correct answer-When rocks free-fall
What is a slump (or rotational slide)? Where are they most common? - Correct
answer-Movement along a curved surface. Most common in poorly consolidated or
unconsolidated material
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, What is a rock slide (or block slide)? What do they usually involve? - Correct
answer-When movement takes place along a planar surface. Usually involve solid
pieces of rock
What criteria is used to recognize the different types of flows? - Correct answer-
Rate of movement, type of material, and amount of water
What do mudflows consist of? - Correct answer-Mostly clay- and silt-size
particles, contains up to 30% water.
Where are mudflows most common? - Correct answer-In semiarid and arid
environments.
What are debris flows composed of? - Correct answer-Larger particles
What are quick clays? - Correct answer-Clays that spontaneously liquefy and flow
like water when they are disturbed
What do earthflows move downslope as? - Correct answer-Thick, viscous, tongue-
shaped masses of wet regolith
What is solifluction? - Correct answer-The slow downslope movement of water-
saturated surface material
Where is solifluction most common? - Correct answer-Areas of permafrost
©COPYRIGHT 2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
Guide 2026 Questions and Answers
Graded A+
What is mass wasting? - Correct answer-The downslope movement of material
under the direct influence of gravity
When does mass wasting occur? - Correct answer-When the gravitational force
acting parallel to a slope exceeds the slope's shear strength
What are the major factors that cause mass wasting? - Correct answer-Slope angle,
weathering and climate, water content, overloading, and removal of vegetation
How are mass movements classified? - Correct answer-Rate of movement, type of
movement, and type of material
What are rockfalls? - Correct answer-When rocks free-fall
What is a slump (or rotational slide)? Where are they most common? - Correct
answer-Movement along a curved surface. Most common in poorly consolidated or
unconsolidated material
©COPYRIGHT 2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, What is a rock slide (or block slide)? What do they usually involve? - Correct
answer-When movement takes place along a planar surface. Usually involve solid
pieces of rock
What criteria is used to recognize the different types of flows? - Correct answer-
Rate of movement, type of material, and amount of water
What do mudflows consist of? - Correct answer-Mostly clay- and silt-size
particles, contains up to 30% water.
Where are mudflows most common? - Correct answer-In semiarid and arid
environments.
What are debris flows composed of? - Correct answer-Larger particles
What are quick clays? - Correct answer-Clays that spontaneously liquefy and flow
like water when they are disturbed
What do earthflows move downslope as? - Correct answer-Thick, viscous, tongue-
shaped masses of wet regolith
What is solifluction? - Correct answer-The slow downslope movement of water-
saturated surface material
Where is solifluction most common? - Correct answer-Areas of permafrost
©COPYRIGHT 2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
