Question

Layers of rock wear off during which of the following processes?

A: Expansion B: Contraction C: Exfoliation D: Pressure

Answer 1

Exfoliation

Explanation:

Changes in temperature cause rock to expand (with heat) and contract (with cold). As this happens over and over again, the structure of the rock weakens. Over time, it crumbles.

Rocky desert landscapes are particularly vulnerable to thermal stress. The outer layer of desert rocks undergo repeated stress as the temperature changes from day to night. Eventually, outer layers flake off in thin sheets, a process called exfoliation.