How does slope affect mass wasting?

How does slope affect mass wasting?

The steeper the slope, the greater potential for gravity to pull objects down. The shallower the slope, the less effect gravity has on pulling objects down. There are several factors that influence mass wasting, but ultimately it is a battle between friction and gravity. But if gravity is stronger, the slope will fail.

What causes mass movement on slopes?

Gravity is the main force responsible for mass movements. The perpendicular component of gravity, gp, helps to hold the object in place on the slope. The component of gravity acting parallel to the slope, gs, causes a shear stress parallel to the slope and helps to move the object in the down-slope direction.

What are examples of types of mass wasting?

Mass wasting is the movement of rock and soil down slope under the influence of gravity. Rock falls, slumps, and debris flows are all examples of mass wasting. Often lubricated by rainfall or agitated by seismic activity, these events may occur very rapidly and move as a flow.

What conditions does mass wasting occur?

Factors that change the potential of mass wasting include: change in slope angle, weakening of material by weathering, increased water content, changes in vegetation cover, and overloading. Volcano flanks can become over-steep resulting in instability and mass wasting.

Which of the following are types of slope failure?

Types of Slope Failure are as follows:

  • Translational Failure.
  • Rotational Failure.
  • Flow Failure.
  • Block or Wedge Failure.
  • Rock Slope Failure.
  • Plane Failure.
  • Toppling Failure.
  • Rock Failure.

What are 3 factors that contribute to mass wasting?

Mass wasting is influenced by slope, material strength, water content, and amount of vegetation. Mass wasting can be triggered by storms, earthquakes, eruptions, and human activity. Fall, slide, flow, and creep are the main categories of mass wasting mechanisms.

What are the different types of mass movement that we are prone to?

There are four different types of mass movement:

  • Rockfall. Bits of rock fall off the cliff face, usually due to freeze-thaw weathering.
  • Mudflow. Saturated soil (soil filled with water) flows down a slope.
  • Landslide. Large blocks of rock slide downhill.
  • Rotational slip. Saturated soil slumps down a curved surface.

What are the different types of slope?

From the previous section, you have discovered that there are four types of slope.

  • postive slope (when lines go uphill from left to right)
  • negative slope (when lines go downhill from left to right)
  • zero slope (when lines are horizontal)
  • undefined slope (when lines are vertical)

What are the types and causes of slope failure?

Causes of Slope Failure.

  • Erosion. Water and wind continuously erode natural and man-made slopes.
  • Rainfall. Long periods of rainfall saturate, soften, and erode soils.
  • Earthquakes.
  • Geological Features.
  • External Loading.
  • Construction Activities.
  • Rapid Drawdown.

What happens to the slope during mass wasting?

Mass wasting occurs when a slope is too steep to remain stable with existing material and conditions. Loose rock and soil , called regolith , are what typically move during a mass-wasting event. Slope stability is determined by two factors: the angle of the slope and the shear strength of the accumulated materials.

Which is the most common type of mass wasting?

The most common mass-wasting types are falls, rotational and translational slides, flows, and creep. How does mass wasting occur? Mass wasting is the movement of rock and soil down slope under the influence of gravity. Rock falls, slumps, and debris flows are all examples of mass wasting.

Which is an example of mass wasting in Alaska?

Noatak National Preserve, Alaska. Mass wasting is the movement of rock and soil down slope under the influence of gravity. Rock falls, slumps, and debris flows are all examples of mass wasting. Often lubricated by rainfall or agitated by seismic activity, these events may occur very rapidly and move as a flow.

What causes the mass wasting of a rock?

This type of mass wasting occur when pieces of rock break loose from a steep rock face or cliff due to various weathering agents like wind and water. These forces gradually cut the rocks for hundreds of years lodging them off their base due to undercutting. Eventually the rock is dislodged.