What is an example of weathering in rocks?

• A. A rock moving through a river.
• B. A rock being broken down by wind.
• C. A rock carried away by a river.
• D. A rock dissolving in acid rain.

Answer: (B)

Weathering is the breakdown of rocks in place by physical forces or chemical reactions. A rock broken down by wind illustrates physical weathering (abrasion) because the rock is fractured into smaller pieces while largely staying in the same spot. In contrast, moving the rock through or being carried away by a river describes erosion and transport, not the breakdown itself. While chemical weathering like a rock dissolving in acid rain is also weathering, the wind example directly shows the rock breaking apart without being moved.