Have you ever seen cracks in rocks? Sometimes, water gets into those cracks. When the temperature drops and the water freezes, it turns into ice. Ice takes up more space than water. This expansion pushes against the sides of the crack, making it wider. Over time, this freeze-and-thaw cycle can cause the rock to break apart! It's like water is a secret rock-cracking superhero!
This process is called ice wedging or frost weathering and is a type of physical weathering.
Match the word with its definition:
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| 1. Freeze | a. The process of breaking down rocks into smaller pieces. |
| 2. Expand | b. To turn from liquid to solid by cooling. |
| 3. Crack | c. To become larger in size. |
| 4. Weathering | d. A narrow split or break in something. |
| 5. Ice | e. Frozen water. |
Water gets into the ______ in rocks. When the water ______, it turns into ice. Ice takes up ______ space than water, so it pushes the crack ______. Over time, the rock can ______ apart.
Imagine you find a big rock with a crack in your backyard. What could you do to protect the rock from further cracking due to freezing water?
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