explain why a single5 500 kg block of granite weathers much more slowly than 100 chunks of granite weighing 5 kg each.
How can we be sure of the first number? 5500 or 500?
Sra
To understand why a single 500 kg block of granite weathers much more slowly than 100 chunks of granite weighing 5 kg each, we need to consider the surface area-to-volume ratio and the influence of external factors on weathering.
1. Surface Area-to-Volume Ratio: The rate of weathering is affected by the surface area exposed to external factors such as air, water, temperature changes, and chemical reactions. The smaller the surface area, the slower the weathering process.
When a single 500 kg block of granite is carved into 100 smaller 5 kg chunks, the total volume remains the same, but the surface area increases significantly. Breaking the block into smaller pieces creates more surfaces exposed to environmental factors, accelerating the weathering process.
2. External Factors: Weathering is influenced by various external factors such as temperature, moisture, freezing and thawing cycles, chemical reactions, and biological activities. These factors can lead to physical, chemical, or biological changes in the granite material.
In the case of a single 500 kg block, the external factors act on a relatively limited surface area, and the bulk of the material remains protected. However, when the block is divided into smaller chunks, these external factors have a greater impact, affecting a larger surface area and increasing the rate of weathering.
In summary, the single 500 kg block of granite weathers more slowly than 100 smaller 5 kg chunks due to the lower surface area-to-volume ratio and the reduced exposure to external weathering factors.