1) Roughness of the surface: A rougher rock surface will have more exposed surface area, allowing more water to come into contact with the rock. This increased contact area leads to faster physical weathering as the water can penetrate deeper into the rock crevices, causing the rock to break apart more quickly.
2) Porosity: If the rock surface has a higher porosity, it means it has more interconnected pore spaces. These pores can fill with water, leading to increased physical weathering. When the water freezes and expands within the pores, it exerts pressure on the rock, causing it to crack and break apart.
3) Permeability: Permeability refers to the ability of water to pass through the rock. If the rock surface has high permeability, it allows water to flow through it more easily, enhancing physical weathering. The flowing water can carry abrasive particles with it, which can abrade the surface of the rock, leading to faster erosion.
4) Composition: The composition of the rock also affects how fast it physically weathers by water. For example, rocks with higher concentrations of minerals that are susceptible to dissolution in water, such as limestone, will experience more rapid physical weathering when in contact with water. This is because the minerals in the rock can dissolve and be carried away by the water, causing the rock to become weaker and more prone to physical erosion.
Explain how the texture of a rock surface affects how fast it physically weathers by water.(4 points)
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