When rocks are broken into smaller fragments?

When rocks are broken into smaller fragments, this process is called weathering.

Here's a breakdown:

* Weathering: The process of breaking down rocks, soil, and minerals through contact with the Earth's atmosphere, water, and biological organisms. It's a slow process that happens over long periods.

There are three main types of weathering:

* Physical Weathering: The breakdown of rocks by physical forces, like freezing and thawing, abrasion (rocks rubbing against each other), or the expansion and contraction of rocks due to temperature changes.

* Chemical Weathering: The breakdown of rocks by chemical reactions, such as oxidation (rusting), hydrolysis (water reacting with minerals), and acid rain.

* Biological Weathering: The breakdown of rocks by living organisms, such as plants (roots growing into cracks), animals (burrowing), or bacteria (producing acids that dissolve rocks).

The smaller fragments created by weathering are called sediments.