hii. My question is...
Which phrase best describes weathering?
A) building up earth’s surface through deposition
B) when rock layers form horizontally
C) breakdown of rocks through mechanical or chemical processes
D) processes that make it difficult to determine the age of rocks
Hello! The phrase that best describes weathering is "C) breakdown of rocks through mechanical or chemical processes."
Now, let's understand how we can arrive at this answer. When faced with this type of multiple-choice question, it's helpful to analyze each option and eliminate the ones that don't fit the concept being described.
Option A) "building up earth's surface through deposition" refers to the process of sediment being deposited or added to the Earth's surface, usually by wind, water, or ice. This does not align with the definition of weathering, so we can eliminate this option.
Option B) "when rock layers form horizontally" describes the concept of stratification, where layers of sedimentary rock are deposited horizontally over time. Although this is an interesting geological process, it does not encompass the definition of weathering, so we can eliminate this option as well.
Option C) "breakdown of rocks through mechanical or chemical processes" accurately describes weathering. Weathering refers to the process by which rocks are broken down or decomposed through various mechanical or chemical means, such as erosion, freezing and thawing, or the action of acids. This option aligns with the correct definition of weathering, so it could be the answer.
Option D) "processes that make it difficult to determine the age of rocks" refers to a different concept in geology known as dating or determining the age of rocks. Weathering does not affect or impact the ability to determine the age of rocks, so we can eliminate this option as well.
By process of elimination, we determine that option C, "breakdown of rocks through mechanical or chemical processes," is the correct answer and best describes weathering.