Which phrase best describes frost wedging?(1 point) Responses a type of erosion that occurs due to temperature changes a type of erosion that occurs due to temperature changes a type of physical weathering that occurs due to friction a type of physical weathering that occurs due to friction a type of physical weathering that occurs due to temperature changes a type of physical weathering that occurs due to temperature changes a type of erosion that occurs due to friction
A type of physical weathering that occurs due to temperature changes.
The phrase "a type of physical weathering that occurs due to temperature changes" best describes frost wedging.
The correct answer is: a type of physical weathering that occurs due to temperature changes.
To arrive at the correct answer, we can break down the phrase and understand its components:
1. Frost: Frost refers to the formation of ice crystals on surfaces due to the freezing of water vapor in the atmosphere.
2. Wedging: Wedging refers to the process of something being forced apart or split by a wedge.
Now, let's combine these two concepts:
Frost wedging occurs when water seeps into cracks or pores in rocks or soil and freezes due to low temperatures. As water freezes, it expands and exerts pressure on the surrounding material. This expansion and pressure exerted by ice crystals cause the cracks or pores to widen and eventually split the material apart.
Therefore, frost wedging is a type of physical weathering because it involves the mechanical breaking of rocks or soil due to the expansion of water when it freezes. The cause of this process is temperature changes, specifically the freezing and thawing cycles.