Final answer:
The Earth's surface is shaped by weathering, erosion, and deposition. Weathering breaks down rocks into smaller pieces, erosion transports these sediments, and deposition creates new layers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Earth's surface is constantly being built up and torn down by weathering, erosion, and deposition. Weathering is the process that breaks down existing Earth materials into smaller pieces through mechanical and chemical processes. Mechanical weathering includes actions like freezing and thawing, while chemical weathering involves the breakdown of rocks through chemical reactions. These processes weaken the surface of the Earth, making it vulnerable to erosion.
Erosion occurs when the broken-down materials are transported away from their original location by agents like water, wind, or glaciers. These agents carry the sediments and deposit them in new areas. For example, a river can erode the rocks along its path and carry the sediment downstream, eventually depositing it in a delta or a lake. Deposition is the final step in this cycle, where the transported sediments are dropped off and accumulate to form new layers of Earth's surface. Over time, these layers can build up and create geological formations like mountains or canyons.