Which process describes the breakdown of rocks into smaller particles?

The breakdown of rocks into smaller particles is specifically known as weathering. This process involves the physical and chemical alteration of rocks at or near the Earth's surface, resulting in smaller fragments and sediment. Weathering can occur through various mechanisms, such as freeze-thaw cycles, abrasion, temperature changes, chemical reactions, and biological activity. These processes do not transport the materials but rather change their size, shape, and composition.

Erosion, in contrast, refers to the movement of these smaller particles from one location to another, typically by wind, water, or ice. Transport involves the movement of sediments after they have been eroded, while deposition refers to the process where these sediments settle in a new location. Thus, while all of these processes play a role in the rock cycle and the landscape's evolution, weathering specifically focuses on the disintegration and decomposition of rocks into smaller particles.