Physical weathering breaks material into smaller pieces without changing its chemical identity. Chemical weathering changes minerals, such as through reactions with water or oxygen. Erosion transports material. A single landscape can show evidence of all these processes.
Earth and geology · Discover & try
How are weathering and erosion different?
Reading level 3 of 5 · IndependentChange
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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