Ice. The formation of ice in the myriad of tiny cracks and joints in a rock's surface slowly pries it apart over thousands of years. Frost wedging results when the formation of ice widens and deepens the cracks, breaking off pieces and slabs. Frost wedging is most effective in those climates that have many cycles of freezing and thawing. Frost heaving is the process by which rocks are lifted vertically from soil by the formation of ice. Water freezes first under rock fragments and boulders in the soil; the repeated freezing and thawing of ice gradually pushes the rocks to the surface.
The mechanical energy of an object is a combination of its potential energy and its <em><u>kinetic</u></em><em><u> </u></em><em><u>energy</u></em><em><u>.</u></em>