Plant Roots Break Rocks Apart — Reading Comprehension

Plant roots are important parts of plants that grow underground. They anchor plants in the soil and help them collect water and nutrients from the ground. But roots do something else that changes the Earth over time. They can break rocks apart!

When a seed starts to grow, its roots push down into the soil. Sometimes, the root finds a small crack or gap in a rock. The root squeezes into the crack, searching for water and nutrients. As the plant grows, the root gets thicker and longer. This puts pressure on the rock, slowly pushing it apart. This process is called weathering.

Over many years, the root keeps growing and the crack in the rock gets bigger. Eventually, the rock can split into two pieces! The broken pieces of rock become smaller and mix with soil. This creates new soil for other plants to grow.

This type of weathering is called mechanical weathering because it happens from physical forces, not chemicals. Other things, like wind, water, and ice, can also cause mechanical weathering. But plant roots are special because they use their strength to break rocks from the inside.

You can see plant roots breaking rocks in many places. Tree roots can lift sidewalks or crack large boulders. Even tiny grass roots can break apart small rocks in your yard. Over a long time, these changes help make soil and shape the land. Without root weathering, there would be less soil for plants, animals, and people to use.

Interesting Fact: The roots of some trees, like oaks, can split rocks that are much harder than concrete!

What do plant roots collect?

What is weathering?

What do roots use to break rocks?

How do roots help make soil?

What might happen if roots didn’t weather rocks?

Why do roots grow into cracks?

Roots can split rocks. True or false?

What does 'mechanical weathering' mean?