Question

When running water moves over rock, the rocks will eventually become smooth and rounded. What specific type of mechanical weathering does this example represent?

A) Abrasion
B) Frost wedging
C) Biological weathering
D) Chemical weathering

Answer 1

The running water causing rocks to become smooth and rounded is due to the mechanical weathering process known as abrasion. This is part of the erosion process that impacts Earth's landscape and contributes to the formation of sedimentary rocks.

Step-by-step explanation:

The process by which running water smooths and rounds rocks over time is known as abrasion. This type of mechanical weathering occurs naturally as rocks and sediments in the water rub against each other, gradually wearing down their surfaces.

This contrasts with other forms of weathering such as frost wedging, which involves water seeping into cracks, freezing, and expanding, or chemical weathering, where rock composition is changed by chemical reactions, often involving water as well.

Transport of fragments and their subsequent deposition are part of the erosion process that significantly shapes the Earth's landscape. Over time, clastic sedimentary rocks like sandstone can form from these accumulated and compacted sediments, which are primarily classified based on grain size that resulted from weathering and transportation processes.