2.5.7

Physical Weathering

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Physical Weathering

Weathering is when rocks break down into smaller pieces. There are three types of weathering; physical, chemical and biological.

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Physical weathering

  • Physical weathering is mechanical weathering.
  • There is no chemical change in the rocks.
  • It is caused by the wind, rain and temperature.
  • There are two main types of weathering: freeze-thaw and onion skin weathering.
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Freeze-thaw weathering

  • When it rains, water fills cracks in rocks.
  • If this water freezes, it expands.
  • This expansion increases the size of the crack or breaks apart the rock.
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Onion-skin weathering

  • This type of weathering is also called exfoliation.
    • Onion-skin weathering commonly happens in deserts.
  • The sun heats up the rock, which causes it to expand.
    • When it cools, it contracts and gets smaller.
  • If this process is repeated many times, cracks will form and bits of rock will fall off.

Jump to other topics

1Biology

1.1Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.2Reproduction & Variation

1.3Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4Digestion & Nutrition

1.5Plants & Photosynthesis

1.6Biological Systems & Processes

2Chemistry

2.1Particles

2.2Chemical Reactions

2.3Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4The Periodic Table

2.5Materials & the Earth

2.6Reactivity

2.7Energetics

2.8Properties of Materials

3Physics

3.1Energy

3.2Forces & Motion

3.3Waves

3.4Electricity & Magnetism

3.5Matter

3.6Space Physics

4Thinking Scientifically

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