Explain why the freezing of water into ice causes the cracks to widen

The freezing of water into ice causes the cracks to widen because it occupy more space.

Explanation:

When the water change its state of liquid to solid state due to decrease in temperature, it contracts means occupy less space but when the temperature reaches to 4 degree Celsius, it starts to expand. When the temperature goes below 0 degree Celsius, it will cause more expansion and occupy more space that causes the cracks to widen.

it is the most commonly accepted one

answer : one can design an experiment using a liquid and an additive that can be added to the liquid and observe the chemical changes in the reaction species.

one would need a beaker which is filled with a known amount of the liquid in which thermometer is placed to measure the temperature changes; after addition of the additive to the liquid solution one can note down the temperature change and find whether the reaction is endothermic or exothermic in nature. by subtracting the initial temperature value with the final temperature one can find the temperature changes.

various combinations of liquid and additive can be used. liquid in this case can be a known quantity of water and additives can be epsom salt or without epsom salt the experiment can be conducted to notice the changes. water and ice, hydrogen peroxide and dry yeast, vinegar and baking soda,etc.