Question

A wooden peg inserted in a rock causes it breaking during the rainy season. It is due to the development of
A) Turgor pressure
B) Osmotic pressure
C) Matric pressure
D) Plasmolysis

Answer 1

Hint:Wood or rocks absorbs water/moisture from the surrounding. The water molecules fill the intermolecular spaces which causes split. It is a natural phenomenon. The similar process takes place in seeds when soaked in water swell and split. This is called imbibition.

Complete answer:
According to the question, the rock breaks during the rainy season when a wooden peg is inserted. Let's discuss why this happens.
The wood soaked in water swells up by absorbing moisture. In this, the solvent particles move from surrounding to the surface of dry wood or rock. It occupies the space between the molecules and exerts pressure on the surface. This pressure causes the split. The process involved here is imbibitions and the pressure it exerts is the matric pressure or called as imbibitions pressure. The pressure exerted by the increase in the volume of the imbibant is called the matric pressure.
Osmotic pressure- The pressure exerted by the solvent to prevent it from passing.
Turgor pressure- The pressure applied by the osmosis on the walls of the cells.
Plasmolysis- It is the shrinkage of protoplasm by outward movement of solvent.

Thus the correct answer is option (C).

Note:Imbibition is a surface absorption phenomenon whereas diffusion is the movement of solvent particles from the region of higher concentration to lower concentration. Imbibition is a natural phenomenon which plays a major role in seed germination.