What process leads to the breakdown of rocks through mechanical means?

The process that leads to the breakdown of rocks through mechanical means is mechanical weathering. This process involves the physical disintegration of rocks without changing their chemical composition. Mechanical weathering can occur due to various factors such as temperature fluctuations, freeze-thaw cycles, pressure release, or abrasion from wind, water, or ice.

For example, when water seeps into cracks in rocks and freezes, it expands and causes the rock to fracture, illustrating a classic case of mechanical weathering. This contrasts with other processes like chemical weathering, which involves alterations to the chemical structure of the minerals within the rocks, and biological weathering, which may involve living organisms contributing to rock breakdown, often through activities such as root growth. Physical erosion relates more broadly to the movement of sediment and soil from one location to another, rather than the initial breakdown of rock itself.