Frost crack

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/frost-crack

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific classification?Form of tree bark damage, sometimes referred to as Southwest canker
2. What is the morphological characteristic?Vertical fractures, typically oriented longitudinally on the trunk
3. What is a frost crack on a tree?A frost crack is a vertical line or split that appears in a tree's bark when the water inside the bark freezes and expands, breaking the bark.
4. Why do frost cracks happen on thin-barked trees?Thin-barked trees like poplars, aspens, and young maples are more likely to get frost cracks because their bark has less insulation and fewer layers to absorb the pressure from freezing water.

Periderm: The outermost layer of bark in woody plants, providing protection and insulation.
Diurnal Temperature Fluctuation: Significant variations in temperature between day and night.
Tensile Strength: The resistance of a material to breaking under tension or pulling forces.