Dry wooden stakes, if driven into a small crack in a rock and then soaked, can develop enough pressure to split the rock . This pressure is developed due to

Options

A. imbibition
B. exosomosis
C. plasmolysis
D. diffusion

Answer

To solve the question regarding the pressure developed by dry wooden stakes when soaked in a crack in a rock, we can break down the explanation into clear steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Setup**:
- We have dry wooden stakes that are inserted into a small crack in a rock. When these stakes are soaked with water, they absorb the water.

**Hint**: Consider what happens to materials when they come into contact with water.

2. **Nature of Wooden Stakes**:
- The wooden stakes are made of dead plant cells. Even though they lack protoplasm, they can still absorb water due to their structure.

**Hint**: Think about the properties of plant cells and their ability to interact with water.

3. **Process of Water Absorption**:
- The process by which the dry wooden stakes take up water is called imbibition. This is a physical phenomenon where materials absorb liquid, leading to swelling.

**Hint**: Recall the term that describes the absorption of water by dry materials.

4. **Development of Pressure**:
- As the wooden stakes absorb water, they swell and create pressure within the crack. This pressure is known as imbibition pressure.

**Hint**: Identify the specific type of pressure that results from the absorption of water by the wooden stakes.

5. **Outcome**:
- The imbibition pressure generated is strong enough to exert force on the surrounding rock, potentially causing it to split.

**Hint**: Consider the implications of this pressure on the physical structure of the rock.

### Final Answer:
The pressure developed due to the soaking of dry wooden stakes in a crack in a rock is known as **imbibition pressure**.

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