Answer in brief

What is mechanical weathering?

Weathering is the disintegration, breaking down and decomposition of components in the earth’s crust through the action of natural or other agents. Weathering can occur due to exposure to the earth’s atmosphere. Weathering is controlled and determined by various factors like temperature, rainfall, vegetation and movements of other components in the earth’s crust. Weathering can be mechanical, chemical or biological.

Mechanical or physical weathering is the disintegration and breaking down of components in the earth’s crust through the action of physical forces. It does not change the chemical composition of rocks. It occurs due to the changes in temperature during the day and the night in cold and dry places. Water, temperature, wind, pressure and other physical factors are the agents of disintegration. It can be again classified into different types- exfoliation, block disintegration and granular weathering.