Physical Geology

Mass movement (also known as mass wasting) means downslope movement due to

Wind

Water

Gravity

Earthquakes

When sediment layers on or near the surface get wet, the weight of the sediment layers increases primarily because

Water has a higher density than most sediments (i.e., for equal volumes, water weighs more than most sediments)

Water takes up spaces that otherwise would be filled with air

Water reacts with sediments to produce heavier minerals

All of the above

Liquid water on the surface is the direct result of

Condensation and precipitation from the atmosphere

Groundwater discharge

Snow/ice melting

All of the above

The base level of a stream is

the lowest velocity with which the stream moves along its entire length of flow

The lowest level (e.g., lowest elevation) to which a stream can erode its channel

The lowest water level (e.g., lowest stage) of the stream each day

the bottom of the stream channel

A stream channel that has a steep gradient

Erodes the channel primarily in a lateral (side-to-side) process

Erodes the channel primarily in a downcutting process

Tends to result in a valley with steep sides

Both b and c

The primary difference between confined and unconfined aquifers is that

The saturated zone can rise and fall only in confined aquifers

The saturated zone can rise and fall only in unconfined aquifers

Wells can be created only in confined aquifers

Wells can be created only in unconfined aquifers

Unsaturated zones are regions of the subsurface where the voids

Are always completely free of water (i.e., completely dry)

Are always completely filled with water

May or may not contain water, but if there is water, the water does not completely fill the voids

Are especially small

A characteristic erosional landform created by a valley glacier is a

U-shaped valley

V-shaped valley

Sinter

None of the above

Glacial till is

Sediment transported and eventually deposited by glacial meltwater

Sediment transported and eventually deposited by the glacier itself

Usually well sorted

Both b and c

The point of maximum advance of glaciers (i.e., farthest distance the glaciers extended) during the last ice age

is not known

Is known by the locations of ground moraines

Is known by the locations of terminal end moraines

Is known by the locations of medial moraines

A desert is defined as a region with

High temperatures

Low annual precipitation totals

Large quantities of sand on the surface

All of the above

Precipitation is most likely to occur

When warm, humid air moves to higher altitudes (rises)

When warm, humid air moves to lower altitudes (sinks)

When cold, dry air moves to higher altitudes (rises)

When cold, dry air moves to lower altitudes (sinks)

A factor that controls the specific locations where dry lands are created is

Hadley Cell atmosphere circulation

Topography

Ocean currents

All of the above

Most ocean waves are generated by

Tides

Winds

Earthquakes

None of the above

The net (overall) movement of sand grains on a beach is

Out towards the deep ocean

Along the shore in the same direction as the longshore current

Along the shore in the opposite direction as the longshore current

Zero – beach sand generally stays where it is

Physical Geology

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