Chapter 28, Problem 9RQ

What is the difference between a cave and a cavern?

To determine

The difference between a cave and a cavern.

Answer to Problem 9RQ

The differences between a cave and a cavern are given in table 1.

Explanation of Solution

The differences between a cave and a cavern are given in the table below:

S. No.	Cave	Cavern
1.	Carbonic acid is formed when rainwater becomes acidic due to the carbon dioxide in the environment. Later, the water infiltrates into the land, forming groundwater. Beneath the Earth’s surface, there are large deposits of carbonate rocks to store this water. When the rainwater comprising carbonic acid comes in contact with these carbonate rocks, it partially dissolves the carbonate rocks. Thus, causing rare erosional landscapes, like caves.	A cavern is also formed in the same way as clay, but in case of a cavern, the carbonic acid dissolves large size carbonate rocks.
2.	The fractures caused in caves are small.	The fractures in caverns are very large. Table 1

Conclusion:

Therefore, the differences between a cave and a cavern are given in table 1.