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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.

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Why does water break up rocks when it freezes?

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.


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 the freezing of water cause the wearing down of rock?

When water freezes, it expands and creates pressure within cracks in the rock. As the ice thaws, the pressure is released, causing the rock to crack and break apart. This cycle of freezing and thawing can gradually wear down the rock over time.


What does ice have to do with the process of weathering and erosion?

When it rains, water can get in through the cracks in asphalt, rock, etc. Then that water freezes, which expands the size of the water. When it expands, it pushes the rock apart, thus causing erosion and weathering. =)


How Frost helps break up rocks by pushing against the?

Frost breaks up rocks by the process of frost wedging. Water seeps into cracks in the rocks and freezes, expanding as it turns into ice. The expansion creates pressure that forces the cracks to widen, eventually causing the rock to break apart.

Related Questions

Why does water break up rocks when it freezes?

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.


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 the freezing of water cause the wearing down of rock?

When water freezes, it expands and creates pressure within cracks in the rock. As the ice thaws, the pressure is released, causing the rock to crack and break apart. This cycle of freezing and thawing can gradually wear down the rock over time.


What happens to ice as warms up?

Eventually it melts


What does ice have to do with the process of weathering and erosion?

When it rains, water can get in through the cracks in asphalt, rock, etc. Then that water freezes, which expands the size of the water. When it expands, it pushes the rock apart, thus causing erosion and weathering. =)


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 is physical weathering different from chemical weathering?

Physical weathering is due to: rocks hitting other rocks causing them to break up from the action of frost and ice the action of wind or waves or running water the action of plants. Chemical weathering changes the composition of the rock and is due to: water dissolving minerals in the rock oxidation of metals in the rock


How Frost helps break up rocks by pushing against the?

Frost breaks up rocks by the process of frost wedging. Water seeps into cracks in the rocks and freezes, expanding as it turns into ice. The expansion creates pressure that forces the cracks to widen, eventually causing the rock to break apart.


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.


Why do bottles filled with water break up when frozen?

because the ice expands once it is frozen your welcome, the wiz kid


How does ice weather rocks?

In one way (ice wedging), water gets into cracks in the rock, then freezes. This force can eventually split the rock crystals. In another (moving ice), a glacier or other large mass of ice moves across the rocks surface. This can scour away loose rock by friction. (It does not require that there be imbedded rocks, but this can also occur, where rocks are pushed together until one breaks.)


Can ice wedging break the world?

Ice wedging is a natural process where water seeps into cracks in rocks, freezes, and expands, causing the rock to crack further. While ice wedging can contribute to erosion and the weathering of rocks, it alone cannot break the entire world as the Earth's geology is highly resilient to these processes on a global scale.