What is the relationship between weathering and erosion in shaping landforms?

• A. Erosion breaks down rocks into smaller pieces
• B. Weathering moves rock fragments from one place to another
• C. Weathering breaks down rocks; erosion moves pieces away
• D. Erosion creates new rocks

Answer: (C)

Weathering is the process that breaks rocks into smaller pieces in place, while erosion is the movement of those pieces away from their original location by forces like water, wind, or ice. Together, weathering provides the material and erosion transports it, which over time shapes landforms such as valleys and canyons. This choice is the best because it correctly assigns weathering to breaking rocks in place and erosion to moving the broken pieces. The idea that erosion breaks rocks or that weathering moves fragments misses the real roles of each process, and erosion doesn’t create new rocks.