EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Frost wedging is a mechanical weathering process caused by the freeze-thaw action of water that is trapped between cracks in the rock. When water freezes, it expands and applies pressure to the surrounding rock forcing the rock to accommodate the expansion of the ice.

Detailed explanation-2: -Mechanical weathering involves mechanical processes that break up a rock: for example, ice freezing and expanding in cracks in the rock; tree roots growing in similar cracks; expansion and contraction of rock in areas with high daytime and low nighttime temperatures; cracking of rocks in forest fires, and so forth.

Detailed explanation-3: -Physical weathering Water can get into cracks in a rock and, if it freezes, the ice will expand and push the cracks apart. When the ice melts, more water can get into the larger crack; if it freezes again it expands and can make the crack even bigger.

Detailed explanation-4: -Examples of frost wedging include boulders and mountains in cold climates with large cracks in them. Rock formations are often caused from frost wedging where tectonic plate movement is not likely.