Select the correct answer.

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|c|c|c|}
\hline
City & Climate & \begin{tabular}{c}
Day Temperature \\
[tex]$\left({ }^{\circ} C \right)$[/tex]
\end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c}
Night Temperature \\
[tex]$\left({ }^{\circ} C \right)$[/tex]
\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 :

To determine which city's rocks are most likely to experience frost wedging, we need to consider both the climate (wet or dry) and the temperature fluctuations around the freezing point.

Frost wedging occurs when water enters cracks in rocks, freezes, and expands, causing the cracks to widen. For frost wedging to be effective, the following conditions are ideal:

1. The presence of water (wet climate).
2. Temperatures fluctuating around the freezing point (0°C).

Let’s analyze each city based on these criteria:

- City A:
- Climate: Dry
- Day Temperature: -11°C
- Night Temperature: -30°C
- Explanation: Because it is a dry region, there is little rainfall. The temperatures are consistently below freezing, which implies that water would remain frozen and would not cause significant frost wedging.

- City B:
- Climate: Wet
- Day Temperature: 5°C
- Night Temperature: -4°C
- Explanation: This city has a wet climate, indicating the presence of water. Additionally, the temperatures fluctuate around the freezing point, with above freezing temperatures during the day and below freezing temperatures at night. This is an ideal condition for frost wedging as water can seep into the rocks during the day and freeze at night, causing the expansion and wedging effect.

- City C:
- Climate: Wet
- Day Temperature: 14°C
- Night Temperature: 6°C
- Explanation: While this city is wet and has plenty of water, the temperatures are well above freezing both during the day and at night. Therefore, frost wedging is unlikely to occur because freezing conditions are not met.

- City D:
- Climate: Dry
- Day Temperature: 26°C
- Night Temperature: 17°C
- Explanation: This city is dry, with little rainfall. Additionally, the temperatures are much higher than the freezing point, making frost wedging impossible.

Given these analyses, the city where frost wedging is most likely to occur is:
City B, because it is a wet region and the temperature fluctuates around the freezing point.

Therefore, the correct answer is:
B. City B because it is a wet region and the temperature fluctuates around the freezing point.