Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) Integrated Science (024) Practice Exam

What geological process is primarily responsible for the recycling of earth materials over time?

1. Weathering

2. Cycling of nutrients

3. Plate tectonics

4. Rock cycle

The correct answer is: Rock cycle

The rock cycle is the geological process primarily responsible for the recycling of earth materials over time. This cycle describes the continuous transformation of rocks through various stages, encompassing the formation, breakdown, and reformation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. For example, igneous rocks can be broken down by weathering and erosion to create sediments, which, over time and under pressure, can form sedimentary rocks. Similarly, sedimentary rocks subjected to intense heat and pressure can transform into metamorphic rocks. Eventually, these metamorphic rocks can melt into magma, completing the cycle as the newly formed igneous rocks emerge from volcanic activity, thereby recycling materials within the Earth's crust. This process highlights the dynamic nature of Earth's materials as they are constantly being recycled, contributing to the ongoing changes in the planet's surface and aiding in the formation of diverse geological structures over millions of years. Other processes, like weathering or plate tectonics, contribute to the Earth’s geology but do not encapsulate the comprehensive recycling aspect presented by the rock cycle.