Blinn College - Geology 1403 - 316 -
Dr.Mosely Exam 4 Questions with
Verified Answers
What is the role of external processes in the rock cycle? - ✔✔processes that
take place on the outside of the earth
How is mass wasting different from erosion? - ✔✔mass wasting - rapid
movement of rock & soil down a slope
erosion - movement of rock & soil down hill by an agent of transport
What is the water cycle? - ✔✔the unending circulation of water
What energy source powers the water cycle? - ✔✔the sun
What is the most important agent in sculpting earth's land surface? - ✔✔runoff
What factors determine the streams ability to erode? - ✔✔1.) gradient
2.) size, shape & roughness of the channel
3.) discharge
What is base level? - ✔✔the lowest elevation that a stream can cut down to
The work of streams include what three processes - ✔✔1.) erode
2.) transport
3.) deposit
1|Page
©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
,What are the two general types of river valleys? - ✔✔1.) narrow Valleys
2.) wide Valleys
What are features of a narrow valley? - ✔✔- v-shaped
- actively downcutting
- stream is high about base level
- high gradient
- swift current
What are features of a wide valley? - ✔✔- stream is close to base level
- little down cutting
- low gradient
- most energy is forced laterally
- floodplains & meanders
What are some common drainage patterns? - ✔✔1.) dendritic pattern
2.) rectangular pattern
3.) radial pattern
4.) trellis pattern
What are features of dendritic drainage pattern? - ✔✔- develops on uniform
surface material
2|Page
©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
, - most common
- tree like branching pattern
- determined by the direction of slope in the land
What are features of rectangular drainage pattern? - ✔✔- develops on highly
jointed bedrock
- right angle bends
What are features of radial drainage pattern? - ✔✔- develop on volcanic cones
or domes
- streams coverage from a central area
What are features of trellis drainage patter? - ✔✔- develop in areas of weak and
resistant bedrock
- found in Appalachian Mountains
- a rectangular drainage pattern
- streams are nearly parallel to one another
What is the importance of groundwater as a resource? - ✔✔is used for irrigation
& public supply
What is the importance of groundwater as a geologic agent? - ✔✔- removes
sediment as dissolved ions in solutions
3|Page
©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
Dr.Mosely Exam 4 Questions with
Verified Answers
What is the role of external processes in the rock cycle? - ✔✔processes that
take place on the outside of the earth
How is mass wasting different from erosion? - ✔✔mass wasting - rapid
movement of rock & soil down a slope
erosion - movement of rock & soil down hill by an agent of transport
What is the water cycle? - ✔✔the unending circulation of water
What energy source powers the water cycle? - ✔✔the sun
What is the most important agent in sculpting earth's land surface? - ✔✔runoff
What factors determine the streams ability to erode? - ✔✔1.) gradient
2.) size, shape & roughness of the channel
3.) discharge
What is base level? - ✔✔the lowest elevation that a stream can cut down to
The work of streams include what three processes - ✔✔1.) erode
2.) transport
3.) deposit
1|Page
©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
,What are the two general types of river valleys? - ✔✔1.) narrow Valleys
2.) wide Valleys
What are features of a narrow valley? - ✔✔- v-shaped
- actively downcutting
- stream is high about base level
- high gradient
- swift current
What are features of a wide valley? - ✔✔- stream is close to base level
- little down cutting
- low gradient
- most energy is forced laterally
- floodplains & meanders
What are some common drainage patterns? - ✔✔1.) dendritic pattern
2.) rectangular pattern
3.) radial pattern
4.) trellis pattern
What are features of dendritic drainage pattern? - ✔✔- develops on uniform
surface material
2|Page
©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
, - most common
- tree like branching pattern
- determined by the direction of slope in the land
What are features of rectangular drainage pattern? - ✔✔- develops on highly
jointed bedrock
- right angle bends
What are features of radial drainage pattern? - ✔✔- develop on volcanic cones
or domes
- streams coverage from a central area
What are features of trellis drainage patter? - ✔✔- develop in areas of weak and
resistant bedrock
- found in Appalachian Mountains
- a rectangular drainage pattern
- streams are nearly parallel to one another
What is the importance of groundwater as a resource? - ✔✔is used for irrigation
& public supply
What is the importance of groundwater as a geologic agent? - ✔✔- removes
sediment as dissolved ions in solutions
3|Page
©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025.
