Which statement best describes how weathering and erosion work together to shape landforms?

Which statement best describes how weathering and erosion work together to shape landforms?

• A. Erosion breaks down rocks; weathering moves pieces away
• B. Weathering breaks down rocks; erosion moves pieces away
• C. Weathering creates new rocks by cooling lava
• D. Erosion stops after weathering

Answer: (B)

Weathering and erosion work together by first breaking rocks in place and then moving the pieces away to new locations. The best statement captures this sequence: weathering breaks down rocks, and erosion moves the pieces away. Weathering includes physical processes like freeze–thaw and root growth, and chemical processes that weaken rocks. Erosion uses moving forces such as water, wind, ice, and gravity to transport the broken material, shaping landforms over time—think of canyons carved by rivers or coastlines worn by waves. The other ideas mix up what each process does or describe unrelated processes, like rocks forming from cooling lava, or the idea that erosion stops once weathering has occurred.

Weathering and erosion work together by first breaking rocks in place and then moving the pieces away to new locations. The best statement captures this sequence: weathering breaks down rocks, and erosion moves the pieces away. Weathering includes physical processes like freeze–thaw and root growth, and chemical processes that weaken rocks. Erosion uses moving forces such as water, wind, ice, and gravity to transport the broken material, shaping landforms over time—think of canyons carved by rivers or coastlines worn by waves. The other ideas mix up what each process does or describe unrelated processes, like rocks forming from cooling lava, or the idea that erosion stops once weathering has occurred.