Weathering
Earth's crust is made mostly of rock. The rocks are broken into pieces by weathering. Weathering is a destructive force. There are two types of weathering.
1. Mechanical weathering
2. Chemical weathering
1. Mechanical Weathering
Mechanical weathering is the breaking of larger rocks into smaller pieces which is called sediment. Mechanical weathering breaks the rocks, but it does not change the kind of rock.
Ice causes much mechanical weathering. Water gets into the cracks of rocks and freezes. When water turns to ice, it expands, or takes up more room. When it happens, rocks break apart.
Earth's crust is made mostly of rock. The rocks are broken into pieces by weathering. Weathering is a destructive force. There are two types of weathering.
1. Mechanical weathering
2. Chemical weathering
1. Mechanical Weathering
Mechanical weathering is the breaking of larger rocks into smaller pieces which is called sediment. Mechanical weathering breaks the rocks, but it does not change the kind of rock.
Ice causes much mechanical weathering. Water gets into the cracks of rocks and freezes. When water turns to ice, it expands, or takes up more room. When it happens, rocks break apart.
Moving air and water also cause mechanical weathering. Blown sand or rushing water hits rocks, and the rocks get weaker. Over time, they crack or crumble.
2. Chemical Weathering
Chemical weathering is the breaking of larger rocks into smaller pieces in which the rocks change into different materials. Water causes most chemical weathering. Water can dissolve some rocks, or break them down into parts that become part of that water.
Cave Formation
Water trickling through the ground can dissolve some rocks far under the surface. Caves are hollow spaces under the ground that are formed by weathering. Most caves are made from limestone. Weak acid dissolve limestone easily. Water seeps into the ground and dissolves some rock. Over time, holes form in the rock. The holes grow forming passages, chambers, and pits. Slowly they become caves.
2. Chemical Weathering
Chemical weathering is the breaking of larger rocks into smaller pieces in which the rocks change into different materials. Water causes most chemical weathering. Water can dissolve some rocks, or break them down into parts that become part of that water.
Cave Formation
Water trickling through the ground can dissolve some rocks far under the surface. Caves are hollow spaces under the ground that are formed by weathering. Most caves are made from limestone. Weak acid dissolve limestone easily. Water seeps into the ground and dissolves some rock. Over time, holes form in the rock. The holes grow forming passages, chambers, and pits. Slowly they become caves.