What process involves the breakdown and transportation of rock, sand, and soil?

The breakdown and transportation of rock, sand, and soil is best explained by the process of erosion. Erosion involves the removal of surface materials from one location and their movement to another. This is typically facilitated by agents such as water, wind, ice, or gravity, which can dislodge particles and carry them over distances. As these materials are transported, they can lead to changes in landscapes, such as the formation of valleys, riverbeds, and coastlines.

In contrast, glaciation refers specifically to the processes involving glaciers, including the carving of the earth's surface by large ice masses. Weathering, on the other hand, involves the breakdown of rocks and minerals at their location without transportation. Deposition is the final step in the sediment cycle, where the materials that have been transported settle in a new location, forming new landforms like deltas or beaches.