Which term refers to a series of processes on the surface and inside Earth that slowly changes rocks from one kind to another?

• A. Weathering
• B. Erosion
• C. Rock cycle
• D. Deposition

Answer: (C)

The rock cycle describes a long sequence of processes that occur both at the surface and deep inside Earth, gradually transforming rocks from one type to another. It explains how rocks can form when magma or lava cools to become igneous rocks, how weathering and erosion break rocks down into sediments, and how those sediments can lithify into sedimentary rocks through deposition and compaction. Deep inside Earth, rocks can be altered by heat and pressure to become metamorphic rocks, and if they melt, they form magma that can crystallize into new igneous rocks—continuing the cycle. This idea captures the idea of gradual change and interconnected pathways between rock types across different parts of the planet, which is why it fits the description so well. Weathering, erosion, and deposition are real parts of the cycle, but they describe specific steps rather than the broad, ongoing transformation of rocks over time.