The causes of mechanical weathering of rocks include plant growth, animal actions and pressure release. Acid rain and carbon dioxide leads to chemical weathering of rocks.
Weathering is the physical disintegration and chemical decomposition of rocks to form sediments and soil.
Mechanical weathering is also known as physical rock weathering.
In this type of weathering huge masses of rocks are broken down into tiny pieces.
When plant grows on rocks, their roots penetrates through cracks in the rock and can disintegrate it.
Some animals burrow and bore deep into rocks.
When a rock mass is lifted from the top of another, pressure release leads to the formation of exfoliation in which a rock resembles an onion peel.
