Final answer:
Tearing a piece of paper is a physical change.
Step-by-step explanation:
Of the options provided, tearing a piece of paper is a physical change.
A physical change refers to a change in the form or appearance of a substance without altering its chemical composition. When a piece of paper is torn, it is still paper—it has not transformed into a different substance. Other examples of physical changes include melting ice and boiling water.
In contrast, options a, c, and d involve chemical changes. Rusting of a nail, for instance, is a chemical reaction that occurs when iron reacts with oxygen in the presence of moisture, leading to the formation of iron oxide.
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