A nearby street is being torn apart by tree roots. How can the roots of a plant be strong enough to break asphalt?
Answer:
As plant roots grow, they expand with quite a bit of pressure. The pressure at the tips of bean roots have been measured at 278 pounds per square inch as they force their way through the soil. As they grow, many tree roots exert an outwards pressure of over 220 pounds per square inch. That is enough to break asphalt, concrete, and even split granite boulders.
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