What is the main difference between weathering and erosion?

• A. Weathering transports material; erosion breaks it down
• B. Weathering is chemical change; erosion is biological
• C. Erosion breaks down material; weathering transports it
• D. Weathering breaks down material while erosion transports it

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that weathering acts where the rock sits, breaking it down into smaller pieces or altering minerals, while erosion is the act of moving those weathered materials away from their original location. Weathering can be physical, like freeze-thaw cracking or abrasion, or chemical, like dissolution or oxidation—it's all about breaking down in place. Erosion uses agents such as water, wind, ice, or gravity to transport the loosened material to a new place. So the best answer states that weathering breaks down material while erosion transports it. The other descriptions mix up the roles or mischaracterize the processes.