Physical weathering may be caused by:

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Physical weathering is the mechanical breakdown of rocks and minerals without changing their chemical composition; common processes include freeze–thaw, abrasion, salt-crystal growth, thermal expansion, and mass-wasting.

1. Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Mechanical (physical) weathering: fragmentation, cracking, and abrasion of rock by physical forces.
- Agents that produce mechanical stress: water (freeze–thaw, pressure of moving water, wetting/drying), wind (abrasion by transported particles), and gravity (rockfalls, landslides, soil creep). Distinguish from chemical weathering, which alters mineral composition.

2. Step-by-step reasoning
- Step 1: Consider water. Water enters cracks, freezes, expands (~9% volume increase on freezing), forcing cracks wider (freeze–thaw or frost wedging). Flowing water also abrades and rounds rock particles.
- Step 2: Consider wind. Wind transports sand and silt that physically scrape and wear down rock surfaces (aeolian abrasion).
- Step 3: Consider gravity. Gravity drives mass-wasting events (rockfall, landslide, creep) that break rocks into smaller pieces through impacts and friction.
- Step 4: Since each listed agent independently causes physical breakdown, the correct choice must acknowledge all of them.

3. Calculations
- No numerical calculations are required for this conceptual question.

4. Why the correct answer is correct
- "All of these" is correct because water, wind, and gravity each produce recognized mechanisms of physical weathering. The collective inclusion covers the full set of mechanical agents named in the options.

5. Why the other options are incorrect
- "Water" alone is incomplete: although water causes many forms of physical weathering, it omits wind- and gravity-driven processes.
- "Wind" alone is incomplete: wind causes abrasion but does not account for freeze–thaw or gravity-driven breakage.
- "Gravity" alone is incomplete: gravity causes mass movement but does not include abrasion by wind or freeze–thaw by water.

6. Conclusion
- Therefore, the best answer is "all of these," which matches the provided correct answer.

Physical weathering may be caused by:单项选择题

类似问题

[REQUIRED] All of the following are causes of physical weathering except...

Which of the following statements is False regarding the post-closing trial balance?

A closing entry may include a Blank ______.

Earnings per share is reported at the Blank ______ of the income statement.

Table 3 shows the short-run production costs for a car wash: [table] Costs | Cost per month ($) Land lease | 4,000 Workers’ wages | 2,600 Car wash machines | 3,000 Water | 1,500 Cleaning chemicals | 900 [/table] In the short run, calculate the car wash's fixed costs in Table 3.

During the closing process, the closing entry to reduce the sales revenue normal account balance to requires the revenue account be debited.

As of December 31, $2,500 of interest expense has accrued on a $50,000 note payable. The note payable and the accrued interest will become due and payable next year. How will the interest affect the adjustments at the end of the period?

Positive economic profit is the same as?

更多留学生实用工具

智能学习助手

风格化写作助手

论文查重助手

文献引用助手

课堂转译助手

课堂笔记助手

Quiz搜索助手

学校历年真题

智能刷题助手

智能匹配练习

希望你的学习变得更简单