Weathering is the breakdown of rocks and minerals at the surface of the Earth. There are two types of weathering: mechanical (physical) weathering, which breaks rocks into smaller pieces through forces like freezing and thawing or root growth without chemical change; and chemical weathering, where rocks undergo chemical reactions with substances like water, oxygen, acid rain, or living things that break them down.
2. Weathering is the breakdown of rocks and minerals on the earth's surface. Many things cause this to happen. There are two types of weathering: Mechanical (physical) Chemical
3. What is mechanical weathering? It is when rocks break down into smaller pieces because of some physical force. The rock does not change chemically, it just gets smaller! Sometimes called PHYSICAL weathering.
4. Photo by A. Criminger Freezing and thawing is breaking these rocks apart! Ice Wedging
11. What is chemical weathering? Chemical weathering occurs when rocks are broken down by a chemical reaction. This can happen by water, oxygen, acid rain, and even living things.
