The rock cycle is a fundamental concept in geology that describes the transformation of rocks from one type to another through a combination of physical, chemical, and biological processes. The cycle involves three main types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic, which are connected through the processes of melting, cooling, weathering, erosion, transportation, deposition, compaction, cementation, metamorphism, and remelting. The rock cycle helps geologists understand the geological history of Earth, how different rock types relate to each other, and the forces that continue to shape our planet.