Weathering is the slow process of breaking down rocks into small pieces through various physical, chemical, and biological processes over time.
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Weathering is the process that breaks rocks into small pieces to form soil. This can occur through physical weathering (such as from wind, water, or ice) or chemical weathering (such as from acids or oxidation). Over time, these processes break down rocks into smaller particles that eventually become soil.
The process of breaking large food pieces into smaller ones is called mastication. This is primarily done by the teeth in the mouth through chewing, which helps to mechanically break down food into smaller, more manageable pieces for easier swallowing and digestion.
Weathering can also result in the formation of soil from rocks. This process can be physical, such as from temperature changes or water movement, or chemical, such as from exposure to acids or oxygen.
The breaking of rocks is typically a result of physical weathering, which involves the physical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition. This can occur through processes such as frost wedging, root wedging, and abrasion.
The breaking down of rocks has to do with a process called erosion. Erosion happens over a long period of time, but it can do tremendous rock damage when it's done! Erosion is caused by weather or the ocean. For instance, the sea laps up on a cliff face for years, and then finally breaks off part of, or the whole cliff face.