Question

A rock in a harsh desert is slowly breaking down over time. Temperatures in the desert rise quickly during the day and fall quickly at night. These temperature changes cause stress in the rock, and as a result, it is slowly breaking apart.
Which of the following processes is happening to this rock?

Answer 1

Answer:b. physical weathering

Explanation:

Answer 2

Answer: Physical/Mechanical Weathering

Explanation:

Weathering is the process that breaks down rocks into smaller particles like sediment and soil. Water, ice, acids, salts, plants, animals, and changes in temperature are all agents of weathering. In this case, extreme heat during the day may have caused the rock to expand, only to shrink from the cold of the night. Over time, this weakened the structure of the rock, causing it to split and crumble, with outer layers flaking off in the process known as exfoliation.