Which of the following types of weathering involves physical disintegration of rocks due to the alternate freezing and thawing of water trapped in cracks and fissures?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Frost wedging is a mechanical weathering process driven by the volumetric expansion of water when it freezes inside rock fractures, causing rocks to physically break apart over successive freeze-thaw cycles. Alternative weathering processes like exfoliation involve pressure release and unloading, whereas hydration and oxidation represent chemical alterations of minerals. Mechanical weathering is particularly active in cold alpine regions and high-altitude mountain environments.