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Expansion of Rocks

During the day, heat is conducted very slowly from the outer to the inner layer of the rock. Hence outer layer is at a higher temperature (expands more than the inner layer during the day) than the inner layers. The same experiences greater temperature drop during the night (i.e. surface layers are cooler than inner layers at night). This process of warming and cooling continues till the outer layer gets separated from the inner layer (exfoliation). During winter, water freezes in the cracks to form ice leading to tremendous pressure exertion on the rock (due to expansion of ice). Cracks widen due to this pressure.