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Looking for NCERT Class 11 Geography Chapter 5 Geomorphic Processes Solutions? This blog provides clear, well-explained answers to all the exercise questions from Chapter 5 of the Fundamentals of Physical Geography textbook. These easy explanations will help you prepare better for your exams. Whether you’re studying for a test or want to understand the chapter for class discussions, this guide will make everything easier to learn. You can also download a free PDF of the solutions to revise anytime you want.
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NCERT Solutions Class 11 Geography Fundamentals of Geography Chapter 5 Geomorphic Processes
These NCERT solutions for Class 11 Geography Fundamentals of Geography Chapter 5 Geomorphic Processes will help you prepare effectively for your exams. By studying the explanations thoroughly and regularly revising the key concepts, you can score well.
1. Multiple Choice Questions
(i) Which one of the following processes is a gradational process?
(a) Deposition
(b) Diastrophism
(c) Volcanism
(d) Erosion
(ii) Which one of the following materials is affected by hydration process?
(a) Granite
(b) Clay
(c) Quartz
(d) Salts
(iii) Debris avalanche can be included in the category of:
(a) Landslides
(b) Slow flow mass movements
(c) Rapid flow mass movements
(d) Subsidence
Solutions:
(i) (d) Erosion
(ii) (b) Clay
(iii) (c) Rapid flow mass movements
Also Read:
- NCERT Solutions and Notes for Class 7 Geography Chapter 7: Life in the Deserts (Free PDF)
- NCERT Class 6 Geography Chapter 2 Globe ‘Latitudes and Longitudes’: Notes and Solutions (Free PDF)
2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words
(i) It is weathering that is responsible for biodiversity on the Earth. How?
(ii) What are mass movements that are real rapid and perceptible? List.
(iii) What are the various mobile and mighty exogenic geomorphic agents and what is the prime job they perform?
(iv) Is weathering essential as a pre-requisite in the formation of soils? Why?
Solutions:
(i) Weathering breaks down rocks into soil, enabling plant growth. Plants form the base of ecosystems, supporting herbivores and carnivores. This chain of life increases biodiversity, making weathering a key process in supporting diverse life forms on Earth.
(ii) Rapid and visible mass movements include landslides, debris flows, and mudflows. These occur suddenly, often due to gravity, water saturation, or seismic activity, and can cause significant landscape changes and destruction within a short period.
(iii) Running water, glaciers, wind, and sea waves are powerful exogenic geomorphic agents. Their main role is erosion, transportation, and deposition of materials, constantly reshaping the Earth’s surface and forming various landforms over time through these processes.
(iv) Yes, weathering is essential for soil formation. It breaks rocks into finer particles which mix with organic matter. This process creates the mineral-rich, life-supporting soil necessary for vegetation, making weathering a fundamental step in natural soil development.
3. Answer the following questions in about 150 words
(i) “Our Earth is a playfield for two opposing groups of geomorphic processes.” Discuss.
(ii) Exogenic geomorphic processes derive their ultimate energy from the sun’s heat. Explain.
(iii) Are physical and chemical weathering processes independent of each other? If not, why? Explain with examples.
(iv) How do you distinguish between the process of soil formation and soil-forming factors? What is the role of climate and biological activity as two important control factors in the formation of soils?
Solutions:
(i) The Earth’s surface is continuously shaped by two major types of geomorphic processes: endogenic and exogenic. Endogenic processes, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tectonic uplift, originate from within the Earth and build up the land by forming mountains, plateaus, and other highlands. In contrast, exogenic processes- such as weathering, erosion, transportation, and deposition- are driven by external forces like wind, water, and ice. These processes work to wear down or destroy the landforms created by endogenic forces. While endogenic processes are constructive and add relief to the Earth’s surface, exogenic processes are destructive, constantly working to level the surface by breaking down rocks and transporting sediments. The Earth’s landscape is a dynamic balance between these two forces. Their constant interaction creates the diverse and ever-changing landforms we see today. Hence, Earth can be seen as a playfield where constructive internal forces and destructive external forces are in constant competition, shaping the planet’s surface.
Also Read:
- NCERT Class 6 Geography Chapter 5 ‘Major Domains of the Earth’: Notes and Solutions (Free PDF)
- NCERT Class 7 Geography Chapter 3 ‘Our Changing Earth’: Notes and Solutions (Free PDF)
(ii) Exogenic geomorphic processes such as weathering, erosion, transportation, and deposition are driven primarily by solar energy. The heat from the sun powers the Earth’s climate system, which includes wind, rainfall, snowfall, temperature variations, and the water cycle, all of which play essential roles in shaping the Earth’s surface. For example, the sun’s energy evaporates water, forming clouds that produce rain, which in turn causes weathering and erosion. It also creates temperature differences that drive wind and affect freeze-thaw cycles in rocks, leading to physical weathering. Glaciers form due to snow accumulation from moisture evaporated by solar heat and later erode and transport materials. Even rivers, which are key agents of erosion and deposition, flow due to rainfall powered by the sun’s heat. Thus, the energy for nearly all external forces that shape the land originates from the sun, making it the ultimate source driving exogenic geomorphic processes and ensuring ongoing transformation of the Earth’s surface.
(iii) Physical and chemical weathering are not completely independent; they often occur together and influence each other. Physical weathering involves the breakdown of rocks into smaller fragments without changing their chemical composition, while chemical weathering alters the rock’s minerals through chemical reactions. These processes frequently work hand-in-hand. For example, when physical weathering creates cracks in rocks due to temperature changes or freeze-thaw cycles, it increases the surface area exposed to air and water, promoting chemical weathering. Conversely, chemical weathering weakens rock structures by dissolving minerals, making the rocks more susceptible to breakage through physical means. A good example is granite: physical weathering can cause it to crack, and then rainwater containing dissolved carbon dioxide chemically weathers the feldspar minerals into clay. Over time, this combination accelerates rock disintegration. Therefore, although distinct in mechanism, physical and chemical weathering are interlinked processes that together enhance the overall breakdown of rocks and contribute to soil formation.
(iv) Soil formation is the process through which rocks are broken down into fine particles and mixed with organic material to form soil. This process involves weathering of parent rock and the addition of decaying plants, animals, and microorganisms. On the other hand, soil-forming factors are the elements that influence how this process occurs and at what rate. These include climate, organisms (biological activity), parent material, topography (relief), and time. Climate plays a crucial role by determining temperature and rainfall, which control the rate of weathering and organic activity. For instance, warm and wet climates speed up both chemical weathering and decomposition of organic matter. Biological activity, such as the presence of plant roots, burrowing animals, fungi, and bacteria, also contributes significantly. These organisms help break down rocks physically and chemically and add nutrients to the soil. Together, climate and biological activity regulate the nature, fertility, and depth of soil, making them essential factors in the soil formation process.
Download NCERT Solutions Class 11 Geography Fundamentals of Geography Chapter 5 Geomorphic Processes
Download NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Geography Fundamentals of Geography Chapter 5 Geomorphic Processes to prepare well for your exams. These solutions explain all the questions and important concepts in simple language, making it easier for you to understand and score better in your exams.
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