ashleychristensen
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The table presents the average day and night temperatures in five cities. It also reveals whether a city receives substantial rainfall (wet climate) or little rainfall (dry climate). Which city's rocks are likeliest to experience frost wedging, and why?

\begin{tabular}{|l|l|c|c|}
\hline City & Climate & \begin{tabular}{c}
Day Temperature \\
([tex]$^\circ$[/tex]C)
\end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c}
Night Temperature \\
([tex]$^\circ$[/tex]C)
\end{tabular} \\
\hline City A & dry & -11 & -30 \\
\hline City B & wet & 5 & -4 \\
\hline City C & wet & 14 & 6 \\
\hline City D & dry & 26 & 17 \\
\hline
\end{tabular}

A. City A because the consistently subzero temperatures would prevent water from melting and escaping rocks.
B. City B because it is a wet region and the temperature fluctuates around the freezing point.
C. City C because it receives plenty of rainfall and the weather is moderately cool.
D. City D because the hot and dry weather would cause rocks to absorb water.



Answer :

GinnyAnswer
To determine which city’s rocks are likeliest to experience frost wedging, we need to understand the conditions that promote this process. Frost wedging occurs when water enters cracks in rocks, freezes, and then expands, causing the rock to break apart. This is most likely to happen when:

1. The climate is wet, so there is sufficient water available to enter the cracks.
2. There are fluctuations in temperature around the freezing point (0°C). This allows water to freeze and thaw repeatedly, contributing to the wedging effect.

Let's examine each city’s conditions based on the provided table:

1. City A
- Climate: Dry
- Day Temperature: -11°C
- Night Temperature: -30°C
- Analysis: While City A experiences subzero temperatures, the lack of precipitation in a dry climate means there is little water available to seep into rock cracks and freeze.

2. City B
- Climate: Wet
- Day Temperature: 5°C
- Night Temperature: -4°C
- Analysis: City B is in a wet region, ensuring that there is plenty of water available. The temperatures fluctuate around the freezing point, with temperatures rising above freezing during the day and dropping below freezing at night. These conditions are ideal for frost wedging because they allow water to enter rock cracks during the day and freeze at night, thus expanding and causing the rocks to break apart.

3. City C
- Climate: Wet
- Day Temperature: 14°C
- Night Temperature: 6°C
- Analysis: Although City C is wet and has ample water supply, its temperatures are well above freezing both day and night. This means there is no freezing and thawing cycle to cause frost wedging.

4. City D
- Climate: Dry
- Day Temperature: 26°C
- Night Temperature: 17°C
- Analysis: City D has dry conditions and high temperatures, both of which are not conducive to frost wedging. The lack of water and the absence of freezing temperatures make frost wedging unlikely.

Given these analyses, the city where rocks are most likely to experience frost wedging is:

B. City B because it is a wet region and the temperature fluctuates around the freezing point.

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