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Water can break up rocks, usually over some amount of time, because the liquid water seeps into small nooks and crannies, then when the water becomes cold enough and it freezes, it expands, forcing the rock or rocks apart, and since rocks are not very flexible but rather brittle this can cause the cracks to widen and lengthen, and break up the rocks.

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Q: Why does water break up rocks when it freezes?
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How does ice break rock?

It can do this in two ways. # The Ice can hold rocks in itself and rub these (like sandpaper) across other rocks as it moves, this causes the rocks being rubbed together to break.This is called abrasion. # It can also break rock as it freezes, this is because when water freezes it expands and thus if water enters a crack in a rock then freezes in the crack the ice will try to force the crack open and over time this breaks up the rock. This is called freeze-thaw.


How does ice and water break up rock?

Water expands as it freezes. So if water gets into a crack in a rock, and then freezes, the expanding ice pushes against the rock and can cause the rock to break.


Why do crack in a rock get larger because water has frozen in them?

Weathering is the process which breaks rocks into smaller bits. This is one type of weatheringPhysical weathering is a physical action which breaks up rocks : An example of this is called freeze-thaw weathering when water gets into tiny cracks in rocks. When the water freezes it expands, if this is repeated the crack grows and bits eventually break off.


How does the freezing and thawing of water affect a rock?

Water has the unusal property of expanding, when frozen into ice. Water that seeps into cracks and then freezes, exerts tremendous pressure, which forces the crack open. During a thaw the loose parts will fall out.


Frost action is an example of this type of weathering?

Rocks are porous which allows weathering by frost action. Water seeps into rocks and when temperatures drop to the freezing point, it turns into ice and begins to expand causing the rocks to break apart.

Related questions

How does a sudden change in temperature break up rock?

in cold countries,water freezes inside cracks of rocks,expands,and causes rocks to break.


How does ice break rock?

It can do this in two ways. # The Ice can hold rocks in itself and rub these (like sandpaper) across other rocks as it moves, this causes the rocks being rubbed together to break.This is called abrasion. # It can also break rock as it freezes, this is because when water freezes it expands and thus if water enters a crack in a rock then freezes in the crack the ice will try to force the crack open and over time this breaks up the rock. This is called freeze-thaw.


How ice breaks rocks?

It can do this in two ways. # The Ice can hold rocks in itself and rub these (like sandpaper) across other rocks as it moves, this causes the rocks being rubbed together to break.This is called abrasion. # It can also break rock as it freezes, this is because when water freezes it expands and thus if water enters a crack in a rock then freezes in the crack the ice will try to force the crack open and over time this breaks up the rock. This is called freeze-thaw.


How does ice and water break up rock?

Water expands as it freezes. So if water gets into a crack in a rock, and then freezes, the expanding ice pushes against the rock and can cause the rock to break.


Why do crack in a rock get larger because water has frozen in them?

Weathering is the process which breaks rocks into smaller bits. This is one type of weatheringPhysical weathering is a physical action which breaks up rocks : An example of this is called freeze-thaw weathering when water gets into tiny cracks in rocks. When the water freezes it expands, if this is repeated the crack grows and bits eventually break off.


Why do cracks in a rock get larger because water has frozen in them?

Weathering is the process which breaks rocks into smaller bits. This is one type of weatheringPhysical weathering is a physical action which breaks up rocks : An example of this is called freeze-thaw weathering when water gets into tiny cracks in rocks. When the water freezes it expands, if this is repeated the crack grows and bits eventually break off.


How can freezing water break a glass?

Because when water freezes, it expands. If there is no other space to take up, it has to push the walls of the container out


How does the freezing and thawing of water affect a rock?

Water has the unusal property of expanding, when frozen into ice. Water that seeps into cracks and then freezes, exerts tremendous pressure, which forces the crack open. During a thaw the loose parts will fall out.


What kind of weather can break up rocks?

All weather can and will break up rocks.


How do sediments get into the water supply?

From rocks in rivers and lakes and when the rocks break up over time the sediments inside the rocks go into the rivers and lakes and overtime into the water supply.


How rocks are being broken into pieces?

Abrasion, Attrition, solution, hydraulic action These are all for rocks under water Rocks get biologically eroded Roots can grow inside the rock, and break it down Water can freeze inside holes inside the rock, breaking it down since water increases in size as it freezes. Rain batters up the rock in a few million years Thunder may destroy rock


Frost action is an example of this type of weathering?

Rocks are porous which allows weathering by frost action. Water seeps into rocks and when temperatures drop to the freezing point, it turns into ice and begins to expand causing the rocks to break apart.