How can plants cause weathering?
A. Plants need water and water can weather rocks.
B. Sprouting seeds and growing roots can cause rocks to break.
C. Chemical reactions and plants change rocks and break them into smaller pieces.
D. Plants attract animals, and animals can burrow into rocks.
C. Chemical reactions and plants change rocks and break them into smaller pieces.
Which action can help slow down the process of chemical weathering?
A. Using less water in industrial areas.
B. Removing clay to avoid weakening rocks.
C. Moving iron oxide to avoid breaking down Rocks
D. Burning less fossil fuel.
D. Burning less fossil fuel.
Which is least affected by chemical weathering.
A. A bridge made of iron rods.
B. A pile of tiles made of feldspar.
C. A statue made of marble.
D. A chair made of plastic.
D. A chair made of plastic.
Here is a step-by-step explanation of how plants can cause weathering:
Step 1: Plants need water and water can weather rocks.
Plants require water to survive, and the presence of water can contribute to weathering processes. Water can seep into cracks and crevices of rocks, and as it freezes and expands, it can cause the rocks to break apart.
Step 2: Sprouting seeds and growing roots can cause rocks to break.
When plants grow, their roots can penetrate into cracks in rocks. As the roots expand, they exert pressure and can widen the cracks. Over time, this can cause the rocks to break and fragment.
Step 3: Chemical reactions and plants change rocks and break them into smaller pieces.
Certain types of plants release acids through their roots as part of their biological processes. These acids can react with certain minerals in rocks, causing chemical changes or dissolution. This process can weaken the rocks and make them more susceptible to physical weathering.
Step 4: Plants attract animals, and animals can burrow into rocks.
Plants provide shelter, food, or habitat for various animals. Some animals, such as burrowing animals like rodents, may dig burrows into rocks. These burrows can accelerate the physical breakdown of rocks by creating additional openings for water and other weathering agents to enter.
So, the correct answer is A, B, C, and D. All of these factors contribute to how plants can cause weathering.
To determine how plants can cause weathering, let's analyze each option:
A. Plants need water and water can weather rocks.
Water can indeed contribute to weathering. When plants absorb water from the ground, it can enter the cracks and pores of rocks. As the water freezes and expands, it exerts pressure on the rocks, causing them to crack and break.
B. Sprouting seeds and growing roots can cause rocks to break.
This is a plausible explanation. When plants grow, their roots penetrate the soil and rocks below. As the roots expand, they exert pressure on the rocks, leading to their fragmentation and breakdown.
C. Chemical reactions and plants change rocks and break them into smaller pieces.
Plants can release certain chemicals through their roots, such as acids, which can contribute to chemical weathering. These chemicals react with the minerals in rocks, causing them to dissolve or weaken. Over time, this can lead to the breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces.
D. Plants attract animals, and animals can burrow into rocks.
While animals can potentially burrow into rocks, leading to their physical breakdown, it is less directly related to the plants themselves causing weathering.
Based on the explanations above, options A, B, and C provide possible ways in which plants can cause weathering. Therefore, the correct answer is a combination of these options.