What is physical weathering?
A. The building up of rock that has been brought from other places
B. The movement of rock from one place to another
C. The transformation of rocks into some other type of materials
D. The breaking of rock into smaller pieces from non-chemical processes
D. The breaking of rock into smaller pieces from non-chemical processes
D. The breaking of rock into smaller pieces from non-chemical processes
The correct answer is D. Physical weathering refers to the breaking down or fragmentation of rocks into smaller pieces without involving any chemical reactions. This process typically occurs due to natural forces like temperature changes, wind, water, and ice. Physical weathering breaks down rocks into smaller fragments while retaining their original chemical composition.
To arrive at this answer, you can use several methods. One approach is to eliminate the incorrect options by understanding their definitions. In this case, options A, B, and C all involve changes to the material composition or location of the rocks, which do not match the definition of physical weathering. By evaluating the options based on their descriptions, you can conclude that option D, the breaking of rocks into smaller pieces from non-chemical processes, best represents physical weathering.