How can temperature lead to weathering of rocks?
A. Rocks can melt when they become hot, which lead to pieces braking off
B. Rocks move faster when they are heated which can cause the pieces to eventually move away
C. Rocks expand and contract when they are heated and cooled which cause them to break
D. Rocks become ice when they get cold which can layer melt and wash away
C. Rocks expand and contract when they are heated and cooled which causes them to break.
Temperature-induced weathering, specifically through thermal expansion and contraction, can lead to the breakage of rocks. When rocks are exposed to high temperatures, they expand, and when they are cooled down, they contract. This repeated expansion and contraction can create stress on the rock, causing it to fracture or break apart over time. Additionally, this process can be enhanced when water is present in the fractures and pores of the rock, as water expands when it freezes, exerting additional pressure on the rock.
C. Rocks expand and contract when they are heated and cooled, which causes them to break.
Explanation:
Temperature fluctuations can cause rocks to undergo expansion and contraction. When rocks are exposed to high temperatures, they expand, and when they cool down, they contract. This continuous expansion and contraction can lead to the development of stress within the rocks. Over time, the stress can cause the rocks to crack and break apart, a process known as thermal stress weathering. This type of weathering is particularly common in areas with significant temperature variations, such as deserts or regions with cold winters and hot summers.
The correct answer is C. Rocks expand and contract when they are heated and cooled, which causes them to break.
Temperature plays a significant role in the process of weathering rocks. When rocks are exposed to extreme temperature changes, such as heating during the day and cooling at night, it causes them to expand and contract repeatedly. This continuous expansion and contraction lead to the development of stress within the rock structure.
Over time, this stress weakens the rocks, making them more susceptible to fractures and breaking. The repeated cycles of heating and cooling cause microcracks to form within the rock, and these cracks can gradually grow larger, eventually resulting in the disintegration of the rock into smaller pieces.
It is important to note that this type of weathering is referred to as thermal expansion and contraction. It primarily occurs in regions with a significant temperature range between day and night or between seasons.