Question
Which statements describe physical weathering? Select all that apply.
Smal rocks are pushed together when a mole digs an underground den.
Mosses grow on a rock and produce acids that wear away the rock over time
Two rocks hit against each other in a fast flowing stream and break apart
Oxygen and water change the composition of the minerals in a rock
Smal rocks are pushed together when a mole digs an underground den.
Mosses grow on a rock and produce acids that wear away the rock over time
Two rocks hit against each other in a fast flowing stream and break apart
Oxygen and water change the composition of the minerals in a rock
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
Physical weathering refers to the mechanical processes that break down rocks without altering their chemical composition. Based on this definition, the statements that describe physical weathering are:
1. **Two rocks hit against each other in a fast flowing stream and break apart.**
The other statements describe processes that involve chemical weathering or biological weathering:
- **Smal rocks are pushed together when a mole digs an underground den.** (This could involve physical weathering, but it is not as direct an example as the statement about rocks in a stream.)
- **Mosses grow on a rock and produce acids that wear away the rock over time.** (This is a form of biological weathering, which involves chemical processes due to the acids produced by the moss.)
- **Oxygen and water change the composition of the minerals in a rock.** (This describes chemical weathering, not physical weathering.)
Thus, the only statement that clearly describes physical weathering is:
- **Two rocks hit against each other in a fast flowing stream and break apart.**
1. **Two rocks hit against each other in a fast flowing stream and break apart.**
The other statements describe processes that involve chemical weathering or biological weathering:
- **Smal rocks are pushed together when a mole digs an underground den.** (This could involve physical weathering, but it is not as direct an example as the statement about rocks in a stream.)
- **Mosses grow on a rock and produce acids that wear away the rock over time.** (This is a form of biological weathering, which involves chemical processes due to the acids produced by the moss.)
- **Oxygen and water change the composition of the minerals in a rock.** (This describes chemical weathering, not physical weathering.)
Thus, the only statement that clearly describes physical weathering is:
- **Two rocks hit against each other in a fast flowing stream and break apart.**