Water freezes in the crack in this boulder and expands. Over time pieces of the boulder will break off. What type of wathering effects is this an example of?
a. wedging
b. hydration
c. carbonation
d. reduced pressure
Wedging.
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wedging
a. wedging
Well, it seems like that boulder is getting a bit cold feet! The process you described, where water freezes in the crack and expands, causing pieces of the boulder to break off, is an example of wedging. It's like the water is playing a freezing game of "take a crack and split!"
a. wedging
This is an example of a. wedging.
When water seeps into the crack of the boulder and freezes, it expands. This expansion exerts pressure on the surrounding rock, causing it to crack and break off over time. This process is known as frost wedging.
To answer this type of question in general, it's helpful to understand the different types of weathering. Weathering refers to the breakdown of rocks and minerals on Earth's surface. There are several types of weathering, including mechanical weathering and chemical weathering.
Mechanical weathering involves physical forces that break rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition. Frost wedging is a specific type of mechanical weathering, where water freezes and expands, exerting pressure on the surrounding rock.
Hydration, carbonation, and reduced pressure are examples of different types of chemical weathering. Hydration involves the absorption of water by minerals in the rocks, causing them to expand and potentially break. Carbonation occurs when carbon dioxide in the atmosphere combines with water to form carbonic acid, which can dissolve certain minerals in rocks. Reduced pressure refers to the removal of overlying material, which relieves pressure on the rocks and can cause them to crack and break.
In summary, the correct answer to the question is a. wedging, specifically frost wedging.