Explain the Geomorphic Process of Land and Rock Formation Flashcards

Magma

Particles

Heat or pressure

Magma is hot, molten rock, found inside the earth, in the mantle.

Tectonic Plates

Parts of the earth's crust which float on the mantle.

Convection currents

Plate boundaries or plate margins

Two plates move towards each other and crust is destroyed. fold mountains, earthquakes and volcanoes are common

Plates move sideways against each other and material is neither gained nor lost. Volcanoes are rare at these margins, but earthquakes are common

Two plates move away from each other. magma rises from the mantle and new crust is created. this mostly happens under the sea. here volcanoe are common.

The breakdown of rocks by physical, chemical or biological processes

Water gets trapped in cracks in the rock, which expands when it freezes pressurising the rock sides. As the water melts, it contracts, releasing pressure on the rock cracks. this causes the rock to weaken, resulting in pieces of rock breaking off.

Each day surface layers of rock heat up and expand. at night the cold makes them contract, this causes thin layers to peel off.

It needs plant roots or decay. plant roots can grow down through cracks in rock surfaces and push them apart, loosening fragments. decaying plants and animal remains make acids which eat away at the rocks below.