Why do rocks weather?

What will be an ideal response?


At or near the Earth's surface, rocks are exposed to low temperatures and pressures, very different than the environment that they were initially formed, and at the surface, they are attacked by atmospheric gases, water, acids, and organisms. These rocks are very unstable at the surface, in disequilibrium compared to where they were formed, so they undergo weathering to form more stable phases.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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In the movie "Volcano" basaltic lava flows are shown running down flat streets at speeds faster than humans could run. From your knowledge of magma viscosity, is this realistic?

A) There is no way of knowing because basaltic magmas can have viscosities similar to water or higher depending on temperature and fluids, and thus there isn't enough information. B) No, the viscosity of basaltic magma is much higher than water, and thus, would flow much faster than water. C) Yes, the viscosity of basalt magma is similar to water so it would flow at comparable rates. D) No, the viscosity of basaltic magma is much higher than water, and thus, would flow much slower than water.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

The Glen Canyon Dam, built on the Colorado River between 1956 and 1966 forming Lake Powell is now considered by many to be an environmental liability.

Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Express the kinetic energy [1?2 (mass)(speed)2 ] of a car with a mass of 1,200 kg moving at a speed of 100 km/h. First, you need to convert the speed from km/h to the fundamental units of m/s. Show the conversion steps. (Note: We explain the concept of kinetic energy in Chapter 3.)

What will be an ideal response?

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Ice caps are smaller than ice sheets

a. True b. False Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences