1. Weathering is the process by which rocks are broken down into smaller pieces.

2. Effects of weathering—surface processes break down rock into small pieces called sediment.

3. Erosion is the  movement of weathered rock from one place to another.

4. Two different types of weathering—mechanical weathering and chemical weathering

5. Mechanical weathering occurs when rocks are broken apart by physical processes. This means that the overall chemical makeup of the rock stays the same

6. Growing plants, burrowing animals, and expanding ice are some of the things that can mechanically weather rock. Glaciers also cause mechanical weathering.

7. Plant roots begin to grow in the cracks, roots grow and enlarge the cracks

8. animals burrow (dig) into the ground, loosen sediment and push it to the surface where weathering attacks it

9. Ice wedging- water enters cracks and freezes and expands, breaking rocks apart, occurs in temperate and cold climates where water enters cracks in rocks and freezes

10. As rock is broken apart by mechanical weathering it will weather faster, the more exposed surfaces, the faster the weathering!

11. Chemical weathering chemical reactions dissolve minerals in rocks or change them into different minerals, occurs when chemical reactions dissolve the minerals in rocks or change them into different minerals, it changes the actual makeup of the rock.

12. Chemical weathering by Carbonic Acid -water combines with carbon dioxide from the air and soil to form carbonic acid, as time passes, the acid dissolves some minerals

13. Some roots and decaying plants give off acids that can dissolve minerals in rock.  When these minerals dissolve, the rock is weakened.

14. Oxidation happens when iron is exposed to oxygen and water

15. Oxidation of minerals gives some rock layers a red color; ex-magnetite to limonite

16. Climate can definitely affect weathering of rocks

17. cold climates, if freezing and thawing are frequent, mechanical weathering rapidly breaks down rock through the process of ice wedging

18. Chemical weathering is more rapid in warm, wet climates

19. Lack of moisture in deserts and low temperatures in polar regions slow down chemical weathering

20. Rock type also can affect the rate of weathering in a particular climate

21.  Rocks at the top of mountains are broken down by weathering, and the sediment is moved downhill by gravity, water, and ice