Which part of Earth experiences physical weathering?
A. outer core
B. inner core
C. crust
D. mantle
C. crust
The correct answer is C. crust.
Physical weathering refers to the process by which rocks and minerals are broken down into smaller pieces without any change in their chemical composition. This can occur due to various factors such as temperature changes, pressure, water, wind, and ice. The crust is the outermost layer of the Earth and is primarily composed of rocks and minerals, making it the part of the Earth that experiences physical weathering.
The part of the Earth that experiences physical weathering is the crust.
To understand this, we need to know what physical weathering is. Physical weathering refers to the process of breaking down rocks and minerals into smaller pieces without changing their composition. It is driven by various physical factors like temperature changes, pressure, wind, and water.
Now let's look at the four options given:
A. outer core: The outer core is a layer of molten iron and nickel located beneath the Earth's mantle. It is a part of the Earth's interior and therefore not directly exposed to physical weathering processes occurring on the Earth's surface.
B. inner core: The inner core is the solid, innermost layer of the Earth, composed primarily of iron and nickel. It is even deeper inside the Earth than the outer core and is covered by other layers like the mantle and crust. Therefore, it is not impacted by physical weathering either.
C. crust: The crust is the outermost layer of the Earth, where we live. It is relatively thin compared to the other layers and is composed of solid rocks and soil. It is directly exposed to the physical weathering processes happening on the Earth's surface, such as temperature changes, freeze-thaw cycles, and the actions of wind, water, and ice.
D. mantle: The mantle lies between the Earth's crust and its core, and it is mostly solid but can flow over long periods of time. It is made up of very high temperature and pressure rocks. Though the mantle is involved in geologic processes like plate tectonics and volcanic activity, it is not directly affected by physical weathering.
Therefore, the correct answer is C. crust because it is the part of the Earth that experiences physical weathering.