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Physical Weathering

Physical weathering is the mechanical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without chemical change. Key processes include pressure release, freeze-thaw action, growth of salt crystals, and alternate expansion and contraction due to temperature fluctuations. These processes lead to the formation of cracks and ultimately the disintegration of rocks over time.

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14 views12 pages

Physical Weathering

Physical weathering is the mechanical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without chemical change. Key processes include pressure release, freeze-thaw action, growth of salt crystals, and alternate expansion and contraction due to temperature fluctuations. These processes lead to the formation of cracks and ultimately the disintegration of rocks over time.

Uploaded by

lavender.amreen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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6TH Grade

Physical
weathering
- Arisha, Shehzeen, Wareesha, Tajree, Tameera
What is physical
weathering?

Physical weathering or mechanical


weathering is the breaking down or
physically disintegrating of rocks into
small pieces without chemical change.
Ways of Physical weathering
01 03
Pressure release Growth of salt crystals

02 04
Freeze-thaw action Alternate expansion
and contraction
0
1
Pressure release
Pressure release
 Weathering by pressure release occurs in
areas where large amounts of overlying
rock are removed by erosion.

HOW DOES PRESSURE RELEASE


BREAK DOWN ROCKS?
 The immense weight of the overlying rock
presses down on the layers beneath, creating
intense pressure.
 As erosion strips away the upper rock, the
pressure on the underlying layers decreases,
giving them room to expand upward.
 This upward expansion generates internal stress
within the rock, leading to the formation of cracks
or joints that run parallel to the surface.
02
Freeze-thaw action
Freeze-thaw
action
Freeze-thaw action occurs in places
with fluctuating temperatures around
the freezing point. ​

How does freeze-thaw action break


down
 When water in a crack freezes and rocks?
expands,
it creates stress that widens and deepens
the joint.

 As the ice within the joint melts or thaws, it creates


space for more water to seep in and accumulate.

 This process gradually forces the joint to


expand further, making it both wider and
deeper over time.

 Rock is weakened and in time it breaks


down into angular rock fragments.
03
Growth of salt crystals
ALTERNATE
04 EXPANSION AND
CONTRACTION
• Alternate expansion and
contraction of rocks takes place in
areas that experience high
temperatures in the day and low
temperatures at night.
Factors of weather

DAYTIME NIGHT TIME


During the night, the
During the day, the temperature falls, causing
temperature is high. As rocks the rock surface to cool and
are poor conductors of heat, to contract.
only the surface of the rock is
heated up and expands
That’s ALL…
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HOPE YOU LIKED OUR PRESENTATION
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