Question

the type of stress which pulls rocks apart is known as
a tension
b confining
c shear
d compression

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option a: Tension stress is defined as the type of stress that pulls rocks apart, causing them to stretch.
• Option b: Confining stress is a type of stress that acts uniformly in all directions, like the pressure from overlying rocks, and does not pull rocks apart.
• Option c: Shear stress involves forces that slide past each other, causing rocks to deform by sliding, not pulling apart.
• Option d: Compression stress pushes rocks together, causing them to shorten or fold, not pull apart.

So the correct option is the one that matches the definition of pulling rocks apart.

Answer:

a. Tension