What human activities can contribute to the breaking of rocks?

Answer 1

Erosion is a continual process, and it can be caused naturally or through artificial means. While many people associate erosion with negative things like land slides and poor soil conditions, it is an important part of the geologic processes which make the Earth what it is. As soil and rock are slowly worn down, they cycle through the Earth's crust and the general environment, causing a constantly shifting and varied surface.

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One of the most powerful causes of erosion is water. Water is sometimes called the universal solvent, because it is so effective at dissolving and changing things. Rain and runoff contribute to erosion, as do glaciers, snow, and ice. Ice can be particularly insidious, because it will literally rip rock and soil apart as it expands and contracts. Many seashores distribute spectacular examples of water erosion, in the form of huge terraces of rocks slowly worn away by the ocean.

Tectonic movement can also contribute to erosion, as can the wind. Wind transports materials from one place to another, and in extremely windy locations it can contribute a powerful scouring force to the process of erosion. Materials also naturally tend to slide down a slope, in a process called mass wasting. This downward pull is what causes mountains to slowly melt into hills and plains, and it is constantly happening, although not always in the spectacular form of a landslide.

Humans can also bring about erosion, usually through poor land management. Overgrazing, for example, is a serious cause of erosion. Cows in particular are known for causing serious problems, especially along river banks. Areas which have been heavily grazed for centuries show clear signs of erosion and soil exhaustion due to the demands made on the soil. Deforestation can also cause erosion, since it strips the protective surface plants and trees from the soil. The soil is no longer held in by roots and plant matter, so it slides away in rainy periods.

Answer 2

Rocks can be broken down (weathered) by the following processes: * Slightly acidic rainwater can react with rock surfaces, dissolving them over time. Rocks can also be affected by organic sources of chemical reactants. * Heat from the sun can cause differences in temperature between the surface and the interior of a rock which can cause a loosening of the surface called exfoliation. * Liquid water penetrates cracks in the rocks surface where it can freeze and expand, opening up the cracks for further attack in tandem with acidic rainwater. * Plant root growth can also cause cracks to further expand, making them more vulnerable to frost expansion and chemical attack. * Underlying rock which is exposed due to erosion of the overlying rock becomes free of the pressure it was previously exposed to, causing the rock to expand and break apart. * Other means of weathering include the expansion of crystallizing salts that have been taken in by a rock surface, expansion due to the absorption of water, and hydraulic action from crashing waves on seashore rock formations.

Answer 3

People have the ability to break rocks with blunt force. People can also use objects such as heavy machinery to run them over and crush them.

Answer 4

Mainly through deforestation (for e.g. agriculture).

Answer 5

1. Direct application of force, by striking the rock with a heavy object, like using of a harmer.

Answer 6

rocks broken by a man ,caused by an unnecessary movements..

rocks broke by stepping on it and throwing to a same rocks

Answer 7

There any many activities that cause erosion. Deforestation, littering etc are some of them.

Answer 8

Just one. Breaking rocks.