- Which hypotheses (uniformitarianism or catastrophism) requires that the earth be billions of years old?
The uniformitarian hypothesis. Because it assumes the geological features of the earth took millions and billions of years to form
- What are the three basic types of rocks?
Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary
- How is each type of rock mentioned in #3 formed?
Ingenious rock is the result of molten rock that cools and solidifies. Sedimentary rock is formed when sediments fuse together. Metamorphic rock is formed when either sedimentary or igneous rocks change, usually as a result of temperature or pressure.
- What agent is responsible for laying down most of the sedimentary rock we see today?
It has been laid down by water
Sometimes the sand hits the rock so hard that tiny chips of the rock are broken off. As time goes on, the constant beating of the sand on the rock wears the rock down, and it gets much smaller. Has the rock experienced physical or chemical weathering?
Physical weathering
- When limestone is exposed to weakly acidic water, it breaks down, forming a gas in the process. Is this chemical or physical weathering?
Chemical weathering
- A geologist is comparing the erosion that occurs as a result of two different rivers. The first river flows quickly while the second flows slowly. Which river do you expect to cause the most erosion?
From quickly-flowing river
- Two hillsides in the same community experience very heavy rain. The first hillside is covered with grass and flowers, while the second is mostly bare. Which hillside will experience the most erosion?
The Barren hillside
- What causes a river to form a delta?
The river deposits many of the sediments it carries there
- What kind of water is responsible for eroding underground caverns?
Ground water
- What is the difference between a stalactite and a stalagmite?
Stalactites form on the ceiling of a cavern, while stalagmites form on the floor of a cavern
- What causes stalactites and stalagmites to form?
Stalactites and stalagmites are formed when groundwater seeps through the ceiling of a cavern. As the drop forms and falls to the floor of the cavern. It might deposit sediments on the ceiling or floor, as those sediments pile up, stalagmites are formed.
