Rocks and other materials on Earth’s surface are constantly being broken down both chemically and physically. The products of weathering include clay, sand, rock fragments, and soluble substances. What is the difference between weathering and erosion?
Weathering
Weathering is the process of decomposing, breaking up, or changing the color of rocks. Chemical weathering involves chemical changes in the minerals in the rock or on the rock's surface that will make the rock change its shape or color. Carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, and acids all may cause chemical weathering.
Mechanical weathering involves the process of breaking down a rock into smaller pieces, but not changing the minerals in the rock. Mechanical weathering may be caused by ice, frost, plant roots, running water, or heat from the sun.
Once the small pieces of rocks are changed, or broken apart by weathering, they may start to be moved by water, wind, or ice. When the smaller rock pieces, which are now pebbles or sand start to move away by these natural forces, we call this erosion.
If a rock is broken or changed, but stays where it is, it is called weathering.
If the pieces of weathered rock move or are washed away, it is called erosion.
