Which path must a rock take once it is in the rock cycle?

Once a rock is in the rock cycle, it can follow several paths depending on environmental conditions. A sedimentary rock may be broken down into sediments through weathering and erosion, which can then compact and cement to form new sedimentary rock. Alternatively, igneous rocks can be transformed into metamorphic rocks under heat and pressure, and metamorphic rocks can eventually melt into magma, restarting the cycle. This continuous process demonstrates the dynamic nature of the rock cycle.