A rock can crack into smaller pieces. Those pieces can also move away. Weathering breaks down or changes rock. Erosion carries material elsewhere. The two processes often work together, but they mean different things.
Earth and geology · Discover & try
How are weathering and erosion different?
Reading level 1 of 5 · EarlyChange
Word help
Weathering
The breakdown or alteration of rock at or near the surface.
Erosion
Removal and transport of material.
Deposition
The settling or accumulation of transported material.
Watch · Try · Explain
See how it works
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Examples isolate a main process for comparison; real landscapes often experience weathering, erosion and deposition together.
What to look for
- Check whether material changes in place or moves elsewhere.
- Look for chemical change as well as broken pieces.
- Separate transport from the later settling of grains.
Explain what you noticed
A stream carries loose sand downstream. Which process is this example mainly showing?
Keep this idea: Weathering breaks down or alters rock; erosion moves material from one place to another.
Follow the sources
- National Park Service — Weathering and Erosion
- National Park Service — Changes in the Landscape: Weathering and Erosion
Source material checked 2026-10-28. Explanations and activities by Nepedia. Agency source links do not imply endorsement.
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