Mechanical Weathering Study Guide

Study Tip

Remember that mechanical weathering has 2 main causes: natural forces (wind, water, ice, and gravity) and life (plants, animals, and humans).

Mechanical Weathering

Mechanical Weathering (aka physical weathering) breaks rock into smaller pieces. Rock changes physically, without changing its composition. Smaller pieces have the same minerals in the same proportions as the original rock. Here are some forms of mechanical weathering:

Ice Wedging: main form of mechanical weathering in any climate that regularly cycles above and below the freezing point.

Study Tip

The same way a person may cast a shadow over another person when they stand under the sun, planets or celestial bodies that have aligned themselves cast shadows over one another as well.

Remember that mechanical weathering has 2 main causes: natural forces (wind, water, ice, and gravity) and life (plants, animals, and humans).

Breaks apart large amounts of rock
Common in Earth’s polar regions and mid-latitudes, and at higher elevations

Ice Wedging

Abrasion: one rock bumps against another rock; smoothens sharp or jagged rocks
Caused by gravity as a rock tumbles down a mountainside or cliff
Caused by moving water as particles in the water collide and bump against one another
Caused by strong winds carrying pieces of sand which can sandblast surfaces
Caused by ice in glaciers which carries many bits and pieces of rock. Rocks embedded at the bottom of the glacier scrape against the rocks below

Organisms: plants and animals can cause mechanical weathering
E.g. plant’s roots grow into a crack or fracture in rock and gradually grow larger, wedging open the crack
E.g. burrowing animals can break apart rock as they dig for food or make living spaces for themselves

Humans: digging or blasting into rock to build homes, roads, subways; quarrying stone

Earth Science

Surface Processes and Landforms

Mechanical Weathering

Study Tip