Question
What are agents of physical weathering? Choose all that apply.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Agents of physical weathering include:
1. **Temperature Changes** - Fluctuations in temperature can cause materials to expand and contract, leading to cracking.
2. **Water** - The freezing and thawing of water in rock crevices can widen cracks and break rocks apart (frost wedging).
3. **Wind** - Wind can carry small particles that physically erode larger rock surfaces through abrasion.
4. **Ice** - The accumulation of ice can exert pressure on rocks, contributing to physical weathering.
5. **Plants** - Roots can grow into cracks in rocks, exerting pressure and causing fragmentation.
6. **Gravity** - The movement of rock and soil downhill (mass wasting) leads to weathering through the displacement of materials.
These agents physically break down rocks without changing their chemical composition.
1. **Temperature Changes** - Fluctuations in temperature can cause materials to expand and contract, leading to cracking.
2. **Water** - The freezing and thawing of water in rock crevices can widen cracks and break rocks apart (frost wedging).
3. **Wind** - Wind can carry small particles that physically erode larger rock surfaces through abrasion.
4. **Ice** - The accumulation of ice can exert pressure on rocks, contributing to physical weathering.
5. **Plants** - Roots can grow into cracks in rocks, exerting pressure and causing fragmentation.
6. **Gravity** - The movement of rock and soil downhill (mass wasting) leads to weathering through the displacement of materials.
These agents physically break down rocks without changing their chemical composition.