Question

Which statements about the cycle of weathering, erosion, and deposition are true? Check all that apply.

Deposition leads to the breakdown of mountains.
Erosion occurs even when mountains are forming.
Gravity does not affect the rate of erosion.
When new mountains or plateaus form, the cycle starts over.
Weathering, erosion, and deposition have almost leveled Earth’s surface.

Answer 1

True:
- Erosion occurs even when mountains are forming. (Uplift and erosion act at the same time; uplift creates relief while weathering and erosion wear it down.)
- When new mountains or plateaus form, the cycle starts over. (Newly uplifted rock is exposed to weathering, erosion, and deposition.)

False:
- Deposition leads to the breakdown of mountains. (Breakdown is caused by weathering and erosion; deposition builds up sediment elsewhere.)
- Gravity does not affect the rate of erosion. (Gravity strongly affects erosion—controls mass wasting, runoff speed, and sediment transport—so it does affect the rate.)
- Weathering, erosion, and deposition have almost leveled Earth’s surface. (They wear surfaces down over time, but tectonic uplift continually renews relief, so Earth is not nearly level.)