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← HistoryWhich mechanism reduced defensive wall effectiveness during Roman sieges utilizing ballista artillery?
A)Kinetic energy accumulation causing fractures✓
B)Chemical weathering from projectile impact
C)Thermal expansion weakening mortar
D)Ground subsidence from concentrated load
💡 Explanation
When Roman ballista siege engines bombarded defensive walls, kinetic energy transfer occurred as the projectiles repeatedly impacted structures, fracturing the wall material over extended periods. Therefore, kinetic energy accumulation reduces structural integrity, rather than chemical weathering, thermal expansion, or subsidence each requiring specific environments and longer timescales.
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