water freezes in the crack in this boulder and expands. over time, pieces of the boulder will break off. what type of weathering effectis this an example of?

a. wedging
b. hydration
c. carbonation
d.reduce pressure

a

The weathering effect described in the scenario is an example of wedging. Wedging is a type of mechanical weathering where water seeps into cracks and joints in rocks. When this water freezes and turns into ice, it expands, exerting pressure on the surrounding rock. As a result, the cracks widen, and over time, pieces of the rock break off. This process is commonly referred to as ice wedging and is a significant contributor to the breakdown of rocks in cold climates. Therefore, the answer to your question is option a. wedging.