1. Frost Wedging: Water seeps into cracks in rocks, freezes, and expands. This expansion puts pressure on the rock, causing it to crack further. Repeated freezing and thawing cycles can eventually break the rock into smaller pieces.
2. Abrasion: Rocks and sediment are ground down by friction, either by wind-blown sand, moving water, or glaciers. This process can create smooth, rounded rocks and sand.
1. Oxidation: Iron in rocks reacts with oxygen, forming iron oxide (rust). Rust is weaker than the original rock, and it can flake off, weakening the rock. This is especially common in rocks that contain iron, like granite.
2. Carbonation: Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dissolves in rainwater, forming a weak acid. This acid can react with rocks like limestone, dissolving them and forming caves and sinkholes.
