Earth Processes

EARTH PROCESSES
After discussing the minerals and rocks, we tackled weathering, erosion and deposition.
Weathering is the breaking down and changing of rocks as result of exposure to the environment.
Weathering is most affected by the climate, the hardness of the rock, and the amount of exposed
surface area. On the other hand, Erosion is the transportation of sediments that have broken
down by weathering processes while deposition is the dropping off of sediments that have been
weathered and eroded. There are two types of weathering which are physical weathering and
chemical weathering. Physical weathering are the breakdown of rocks into sediments without
changing their composition like frost wedging which is a mechanical breakdown that is caused
by the expansion of freezing water in cracks. On the other hand, chemical weathering is the
altering of rocks as a result of exposure to different substances like oxidation which is the
reaction of rocks minerals with oxygen thus changing the mineral composition of the rock.
After discussing weathering, erosion and deposition, we then tackled plate tectonics. Plate
tectonics is the theory that Earth’s outer shell is divided into large slabs of plates. Scientists
believe that these plates move which then creates earthquakes, volcanoes and mountains. There
are 3 types of plate boundaries which are divergent, convergent and transform fault boundaries.
Divergent boundaries are the place where two plates moves apart. On the other hand, convergent
boundaries form where two plates move together while transform fault boundaries are margins
where two plates grind past each other. The table below illustrates the boundary, its opposing
plate action and its corresponding geologic events.

Boundary Opposing Plate Action Geologic Events

Convergent Continent-Continent Mountain building
Continent-Ocean Volcanism
Ocean-Ocean Subduction deformation
Divergent Continent-Continent Continental fragmentation
Ocean-Ocean Seafloor spreading
Transform Continent-Continent Crustal deformation
Ocean-Ocean Earthquakes
After discussing plate tectonic and its boundaries, we then tackled the stresses of rocks .
Stress are force applied to a given area. There are 3 types of stress which are compressional,
tensional and shear stress. Compressional stress happens when rocks are squeezed together
causing rocks to fold. On the other hand, tensional stress happens when rocks are pulled apart
which causes rocks to lengthen or break apart while shear stress happens when forces are parallel
but moving in the opposite direction. After that lesson, we then tackled faults. Faults are rock
fracture where the two sides have been displaced relative to each other. There are three types of
faults in rocks which are normal, reverse and dip-slip faults. Normal fault occurs when rocks
along one side of the fault sink vertically. On the other hand, reverse fault occurs when rocks
along one side of the fault are thrust on top of the rocks on the other side while dip-slip faults are
inclined fractures where the blocks have mostly shifted vertically. To summarize, Stress impacts
the formation of small local faults, and broader tectonic plate boundaries. How the rock
responds, depends on the type of stress and the conditions the rock is being subjected to when it

encounters stress. It is this change in Earth's crust that generates different types of faults and
plate boundaries.
After discussing plate tectonics, we then discussed continent drift and seafloor spreading.
Continental drift was a theory that explained how continents shift position on Earth's surface. Set
forth in 1912 by Alfred Wegener. The continental drift also explained why look-alike animal and
plant fossils, and similar rock formations, are found on different continents. Scientists based their
idea of continental drift on several lines of evidence: fit of the continents, paleoclimate
indicators, truncated geologic features, and fossils. On the other hand, Seafloor spreading is a
geologic process in which tectonic plates and large slabs of Earth's lithosphere split apart from
each other. These processes are the result of mantle convection. The convection currents carry
heat from the lower mantle and core to the lithosphere. It also occurs at divergent plate
boundaries. As tectonic plates slowly move away from each other, heat from the mantle’s
convection currents makes the crust more plastic and less dense. The less-dense material rises,
often forming elevated areas of the seafloor. Several types of evidence from the oceans supported
Hess's theory of sea-floor spreading-evidence from molten material, magnetic stripes, and
drilling samples.
After learning all of these lessons, I think the most comfortable topic for me is the concepts
about weathering, erosion and deposition because you can easily differentiate them by knowing
the processes. I also think that I am very comfortable in understanding the concept of plate
tectonics because our teacher let us watch videos about it for us to better understand this lesson. I

also think that I easily understand the continental drift and seafloor spreading because it was
discussed to us very detailed and our teacher gave some key points which made it easier for us to
understand.
I think the most difficult topic will be the boundaries, stress and faults in rocks. I think this
lesson is very difficult for me to remember because there are so many types and characteristics to
process one at time. In addition, I had a hard time with that lesson because there are so many
types that made things for me hard to differentiate. I also think these lessons are at medium
difficulty for me because I already know and learned these lessons from the past years which
made me understand and cope up with the lesson easier.
The reason behind these difficulties in lessons is that I need to pay more attention in the lesson
when our teacher is discussing. I think that I also need to study and research more about these
lessons so that I can master it. In addressing all of these difficulties, I need to stay focused on
studying and stay more attentive in the lesson. For improving my understanding of types of
boundaries, faults and stresses in rocks, our teacher helped us in understanding it by giving us a
virtual lab that is very helpful in understanding the lesson.
In conclusion, learning earth processes is very interesting because some of these lessons are
very new to me. I also think that learning these lessons is very fun and very exciting because of
the online lab and online teaching that our teacher used that elaborated the details of the lesson
more. I also think that the activities that our teacher gave to us are very helpful and very
interactive. All in all, I have a lot of enjoyable time learning these lessons and I hope that our
next lessons will be as fun and as interesting as these lessons.

Earth Processes

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EARTH PROCESSES

plate action and its corresponding geologic events.

Boundary Opposing Plate Action Geologic Events

made me understand and cope up with the lesson easier.

virtual lab that is very helpful in understanding the lesson.

next lessons will be as fun and as interesting as these lessons.

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