Question

question 2 of 5
which of these would cause the most physical weathering?
a. the roots of a large tree
b. a shallow, slow - moving river
c. sand being blown across a field
d. a deep, fast - moving river

Explanation:

Physical weathering involves the breakdown of rocks without chemical changes. A deep, fast - moving river has more kinetic energy. The force of the water (through processes like abrasion where rocks carried by the river collide with riverbed rocks) in a deep, fast - moving river is greater compared to a shallow, slow - moving river. The roots of a tree cause physical weathering (biological weathering in some classifications but still physical in action as they push rocks apart), but the scale and continuous force of a large river's water movement (especially a deep, fast - moving one) over a large area of rocks is more significant. Sand being blown across a field (wind - driven physical weathering) has less force compared to the water in a deep, fast - moving river.

Answer:

D. A deep, fast - moving river