Answer:
Thermal stress is one of the causes of weathering of rocks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The disintegration or dissolving of rocks and minerals on the earth's surface is referred to as "weathering." Water, ice, acids, salts, plants, animals, and temperature variations are all weathering agents. After a rock has been broken down, a process known as erosion carries the rock fragments and minerals away. No rock on Earth is strong enough to withstand the pressures of weathering and erosion.
Weathering via mechanical means Rocks crumble as a result of mechanical weathering, also known as physical weathering and disaggregation. Water, whether liquid or solid, is a common mechanical weathering component. Liquid water, for example, can seep into cracks and fractures in the rock. Water will freeze if temperatures fall low enough. Water expands as it freezes. The ice then functions as a wedge. It gradually enlarges the fissures and breaks the rock. When ice melts, liquid water erodes the rock by taking away the microscopic pieces that were lost in the break. This particular process (the freeze-thaw cycle) is referred to as "frost weathering" or cryofracturing.
Temperature changes, known as "thermal stress," can also contribute to mechanical deterioration. Temperature changes cause rocks to expand (with heat) and compress (with cold). The structure of the rock diminishes when this occurs repeatedly. It collapses over time. Thermal stress is especially dangerous in rocky desert terrain. As the temperature varies from day to night, the exterior layer of desert rocks is subjected to repetitive stress. Exfoliation occurs when the outer layers flake off in thin sheets. Exfoliation contributes to the production of Bernhardt's, one of the most spectacular aspects of weathered and eroded landscapes. Bornhardts are towering, domed, solitary rocks that are commonly found in tropical regions.