6 PROCESSES OF PHYSICAL /MECHANICAL WEATHERING
Mechanical/physical weathering is any of the various weathering processes that cause physical disintegration of the exposed without any change in the chemical composition of rocks. The following are 6 processes of physical/mechanical weathering. Frost action (freeze/thaw effect) - this is breaking of rock due to pressure exerted by freezing water into rock cracks or joints. When water freezes its volume increases. alternate freezing and thawing therefore exert pressure on sides of cracks and joints in rock and this leads to weakening and disintegration of rock. Pressure release - this occur when pressure is released when rock buried deep down in the earth's surface is exposed due to erosion . Deep in the crust for instance where pluton might be emplaced, rock experience high confining pressure equal to the weight of all underlying rock. If an area is uplifted and country rock originally around the pluton is removed by erosion, the pluton experience a progressive declining c...