- Ice wedging is a kind of mechanical weathering
- Cycles of freezing and thawing water cause ice wedging
- Therefore, cycles of freezing and thawing water cause mechanical weathering

- Cycles of freezing and thawing water cause mechanical weathering
- Mechanical weathering means breaking down rocks from a larger whole into smaller pieces by mechanical means
- So, cycles of freezing and thawing water cause the rocks to break into smaller pieces

So, cycles of freezing and thawing water cause the rocks to break into smaller pieces
Question: A student climbs up a rocky mountain trail in Maine. She sees many small pieces of rock on the path. Which action most likely made the small pieces of rock?
Context: - Ice wedging is a kind of mechanical weathering 
- Mechanical weathering means breaking down rocks from a larger whole into smaller pieces by mechanical means 
- Cycles of freezing and thawing water cause ice wedging