Weathering breaks down rocks and minerals on Earth's surface through processes like ice wedging. Ice wedging occurs when water gets into small cracks in rock and freezes, expanding the crack and widening it. Repeated cycles of water freezing in cracks causes the crack to grow larger each time until it eventually breaks the rock apart.

5. Weathering is the breaking down
or dissolving of rocks and minerals
on Earths surface. Once a rock has
been broken down, a process
called erosion transports the bits of
rock and minerals away.

8. ICE WEDGING
Happens whenever water is able to get into
small cracks in rock or other material and
freeze. While freezing, the water expands and
causes the crack to widen. If this happens
many times (water seeping into the crack,
freezing, expanding, and widening the crack),
the crack will eventually break completely.