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Because when water seeps into cracks and freezes, the material gets pushed outwards, because water exapands as it freezes. This process is called ice wedging.

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Q: Why does frozen water mack larger cracks in rocks?
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Why do cracks in a rock get larger water has frozen in them?

it gets larger because it absorves water


How does freezing water affect the weathering of rocks on a mountain's pinnacle?

Freezing water can affect the weathering of rocks on a mountain's pinnacle because the frozen water will expand within the cracks of the rocks of the mountain's pinnacle. The ice accumulations will also grow larger which will also affect the weathering of the rocks.


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.


Why do cracks in a rock get bigger if water freezes in them?

Frozen water molecules are larger and expand. In liquid form H2O is smaller


Water freezes in the cracks in rocks. plants grow into the cracks in rocks?

cracks open wider


Water freezes in the cracks of rocks and plants grow into the cracks of rocks what happens?

cracks open wider


What occurs when water seeps into the cracks of rocks and then freezes?

Water expands when it freezes, therefore it tends to cause the rocks to crack (or perhaps I should say, it causes existing cracks to get larger, leading to the disintegration of the rock).


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 ice wedging cause mechanical weathering of racks?

If rain water seeps into cracks in rocks, and becomes frozen, the water turns to ice. As the ice expands it can force the cracks wider, even splitting the rock in two.


What happens first rocks break apart or water fills tiny cracks in rocks and freezes or ice pushes against rocks?

All rocks have cracks in them. If water fills the cracks and freezes, it expands and pushes the rock apart.


What is the effect when water freezes in to cracks?

The water expands as it is frozen and so the cracks are made wider/bigger :)


How do rocks change when water in them freezes?

As the water freezes in the cracks of rocks,the cracks expand. The process repeats itself and the rock eventually breaks.