Final answer:
Weathering is the process of the mechanical breakdown of rock into smaller chunks of sediment or clasts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mechanical breakdown of rock into smaller chunks of sediment or clasts is called weathering. Weathering is the process that breaks down existing Earth materials and leads to the creation of soil. It can be caused by physical and chemical processes, such as roots, acid rainwater, gravity, wind, and water. Through weathering, rocks are broken down into particles of different sizes, like gravel, sand, and clay.