Water is known for its unique property of expanding when it freezes, which can help explain why the rock broke apart in this situation.
A. Each time the crack filled, liquid water pushed the sides of the rock apart. The volume of water increased as it froze, exerting pressure on the rock until it broke.
B. Each time the water froze, it expanded and pushed the sides of the rock apart. This expansion created force against the rock, contributing to its breakage.
C. Each time the ice melted, air bubbles escaped and pushed the sides of the rock apart. The release of air bubbles added pressure within the crack, aiding in the rock's splitting.
D. Each time the student repeated the process, more frozen water accumulated within the crack. The expanding ice inside the crack gradually put pressure on the rock until it finally broke.
These explanations highlight how the property of water expanding when freezing played a crucial role in the rock breaking apart through the repeated cycle of filling the crack with water, freezing it, and then melting it.
