GEL 109 Exam 3 Review Questions with Verified Solutions Latest Version 2025 Graded A+
Chemical Weathering - Answers Breakdown of rocks through chemical reactions, altering composition.
Differential Weathering - Answers Uneven wearing away of rocks due to variations in composition.
Erosion - Answers Transporting and wearing down of Earth's surface materials by natural forces.
Exfoliation Dome - Answers Landform created by peeling or shedding of outer rock layers.
Expansive Soil - Answers Soil that swells when it absorbs water and shrinks when it dries.
Frost Action - Answers Physical weathering caused by expansion of water when it freezes.
Hydrolysis - Answers Chemical reaction in which water breaks down minerals, contributing to rock
weathering.
Laterite - Answers Soil rich in iron and aluminum oxides, found in tropical regions.
Mechanical Weathering - Answers Disintegration of rocks into smaller fragments without changing
chemical composition.
Oxidation - Answers Chemical reaction in which a substance combines with oxygen, leading to rusting or
reddening of minerals.
Parent Material - Answers Underlying geological material from which soil forms through weathering
processes.
Pressure Release - Answers Physical weathering process that occurs when overlying rocks are removed,
leading to expansion and cracking of underlying rocks.
Regolith - Answers Layer of loose, fragmented material covering solid rock on Earth's surface.
Salt Crystal Growth - Answers Process in which growth of salt crystals within rocks causes physical
weathering.
Sheet Joints - Answers Sets of fractures or separations in rocks that develop parallel to the surface due
to tectonic stress.
Soil - Answers Top layer of Earth's surface made up of mineral particles, organic matter, water, and air.
Soil Degradation - Answers Deterioration of soil quality and fertility, often due to erosion, overuse, or
pollution.
Soil Horizon - Answers Distinct layer in a soil profile with unique characteristics and composition.
Solution - Answers Process of rock dissolution through the action of water or acidic solutions.
, Spheroidal Weathering - Answers Weathering process that rounds corners and edges of rocks, resulting
in spherical shapes.
Talus - Answers Slope covered with rock fragments that have fallen or rolled down from a cliff or higher
elevation.
Thermal Expansion and Contraction - Answers Physical weathering caused by repeated heating and
cooling of rocks, leading to cracks and fractures.
Weathering - Answers Natural processes of breaking down and altering rocks and minerals on Earth's
surface.
Discontinuity - Answers Boundary or zone within Earth's interior with distinct change in composition or
physical properties of rock.
Earthquake - Answers Sudden and violent shaking of the ground caused by release of energy along
geological faults.
Elastic Rebound Theory - Answers Theory explaining earthquakes, suggesting energy accumulates in
rocks until they break and release seismic energy.
Epicenter - Answers Point on Earth's surface directly above earthquake's focus, where seismic waves are
most strongly felt.
Focus - Answers Underground point where an earthquake originates, marking location of initial rupture
or fault movement.
Geothermal Gradient - Answers Increase in temperature with depth beneath Earth's surface.
Intensity - Answers Measure of an earthquake's effects at a specific location.
Love Wave (L-wave) - Answers Seismic surface wave causing horizontal ground motion, damaging
structures.
Magnitude - Answers Measure of energy released by an earthquake.
Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale - Answers Scale assessing earthquake intensity based on observed
effects.
Mohorovičić Discontinuity (Moho) - Answers Boundary between Earth's crust and underlying mantle,
characterized by change in seismic wave velocity.
P-wave - Answers Primary or compressional seismic waves that travel faster and can pass through solids
and liquids.
P-wave Shadow Zone - Answers Area on Earth's surface where P-waves are not detected, occurring
between 103 and 143 degrees from epicenter.
Chemical Weathering - Answers Breakdown of rocks through chemical reactions, altering composition.
Differential Weathering - Answers Uneven wearing away of rocks due to variations in composition.
Erosion - Answers Transporting and wearing down of Earth's surface materials by natural forces.
Exfoliation Dome - Answers Landform created by peeling or shedding of outer rock layers.
Expansive Soil - Answers Soil that swells when it absorbs water and shrinks when it dries.
Frost Action - Answers Physical weathering caused by expansion of water when it freezes.
Hydrolysis - Answers Chemical reaction in which water breaks down minerals, contributing to rock
weathering.
Laterite - Answers Soil rich in iron and aluminum oxides, found in tropical regions.
Mechanical Weathering - Answers Disintegration of rocks into smaller fragments without changing
chemical composition.
Oxidation - Answers Chemical reaction in which a substance combines with oxygen, leading to rusting or
reddening of minerals.
Parent Material - Answers Underlying geological material from which soil forms through weathering
processes.
Pressure Release - Answers Physical weathering process that occurs when overlying rocks are removed,
leading to expansion and cracking of underlying rocks.
Regolith - Answers Layer of loose, fragmented material covering solid rock on Earth's surface.
Salt Crystal Growth - Answers Process in which growth of salt crystals within rocks causes physical
weathering.
Sheet Joints - Answers Sets of fractures or separations in rocks that develop parallel to the surface due
to tectonic stress.
Soil - Answers Top layer of Earth's surface made up of mineral particles, organic matter, water, and air.
Soil Degradation - Answers Deterioration of soil quality and fertility, often due to erosion, overuse, or
pollution.
Soil Horizon - Answers Distinct layer in a soil profile with unique characteristics and composition.
Solution - Answers Process of rock dissolution through the action of water or acidic solutions.
, Spheroidal Weathering - Answers Weathering process that rounds corners and edges of rocks, resulting
in spherical shapes.
Talus - Answers Slope covered with rock fragments that have fallen or rolled down from a cliff or higher
elevation.
Thermal Expansion and Contraction - Answers Physical weathering caused by repeated heating and
cooling of rocks, leading to cracks and fractures.
Weathering - Answers Natural processes of breaking down and altering rocks and minerals on Earth's
surface.
Discontinuity - Answers Boundary or zone within Earth's interior with distinct change in composition or
physical properties of rock.
Earthquake - Answers Sudden and violent shaking of the ground caused by release of energy along
geological faults.
Elastic Rebound Theory - Answers Theory explaining earthquakes, suggesting energy accumulates in
rocks until they break and release seismic energy.
Epicenter - Answers Point on Earth's surface directly above earthquake's focus, where seismic waves are
most strongly felt.
Focus - Answers Underground point where an earthquake originates, marking location of initial rupture
or fault movement.
Geothermal Gradient - Answers Increase in temperature with depth beneath Earth's surface.
Intensity - Answers Measure of an earthquake's effects at a specific location.
Love Wave (L-wave) - Answers Seismic surface wave causing horizontal ground motion, damaging
structures.
Magnitude - Answers Measure of energy released by an earthquake.
Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale - Answers Scale assessing earthquake intensity based on observed
effects.
Mohorovičić Discontinuity (Moho) - Answers Boundary between Earth's crust and underlying mantle,
characterized by change in seismic wave velocity.
P-wave - Answers Primary or compressional seismic waves that travel faster and can pass through solids
and liquids.
P-wave Shadow Zone - Answers Area on Earth's surface where P-waves are not detected, occurring
between 103 and 143 degrees from epicenter.
