The chemical and physical processes that break down rocks on Earth's surface are called?

• A. Weathering
• B. Deposition
• C. Sediment Transfer
• D. Building dams

Answer: (A)

The concept is how rocks break down in place at Earth’s surface through physical forces and chemical changes. This is weathering. Physical weathering splits and fragments rock through freezing and thawing, abrasion, or root growth, while chemical weathering changes minerals through reactions with water, acids, or oxygen. Together, these processes reduce rock to smaller pieces or dissolved ions without moving them far from their original spot.

Deposition is when sediment settles out after being carried away, which happens after erosion. Sediment transfer isn’t a standard term for this idea, and building dams is an anthropogenic construct, not a natural breakdown process. So weathering best fits the description of chemical and physical rock breakdown at the surface.