Which term describes the wearing away of rock fragments as they rub against each other during transport?

Which term describes the wearing away of rock fragments as they rub against each other during transport?

• A. Deforestation
• B. Catchment Area
• C. Corrosion
• D. Attrition

Answer: (D)

Attrition is the wearing away of rock fragments as they rub against each other during transport. When sediments are moved by a river or other agent, particles collide and grind against one another, breaking into smaller pieces and becoming smoother and more rounded. This mechanical process reduces particle size through repeated impacts and abrasion between rocks. It’s different from corrosion, which is chemical decay of minerals, and from terms like deforestation or catchment area, which describe vegetation removal or the drainage basin, not the wearing of rocks during transport.

Attrition is the wearing away of rock fragments as they rub against each other during transport. When sediments are moved by a river or other agent, particles collide and grind against one another, breaking into smaller pieces and becoming smoother and more rounded. This mechanical process reduces particle size through repeated impacts and abrasion between rocks. It’s different from corrosion, which is chemical decay of minerals, and from terms like deforestation or catchment area, which describe vegetation removal or the drainage basin, not the wearing of rocks during transport.