While travelling to a hilly region you notice a massive boulder which was loosened by heavy rains an...........

General Science (NDA) Physics

While travelling to a hilly region, you notice a massive boulder, which was loosened by heavy rains and moved downhill. This has resulted due to which of the following processes?

1. Mass wasting

2. Erosion

3. Weathering

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

This questions was previously asked in

2022 NDA -1 GAT

View All NDA Previous Year Papers

1 only

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

Explanation:

- Mass wasting is the process where soil and rock move downslope under gravity, often after triggering events like rainfall. This directly describes the boulder moving downhill.

- Erosion involves movement of rocks and soil by agents like water, wind, or ice. While erosion can contribute, in this scenario, gravity (mass wasting) is more specific, but erosion can also play some role in shaping the land.

- Weathering is the breakdown of rocks by physical or chemical processes, which can loosen rocks and make them ready for movement.

- The boulder’s movement was mainly caused by mass wasting (1). Erosion (2) and weathering (3) are related, but not all three directly caused the downhill movement.

- So, the correct answer is Option 1: 1 only.