Explain the roles of Earth's own energy sources and solar energy in the rock cycle

Earth's own energy source is in its hot inner core. The heat from the region is responsible for the convection currents in the mantle and the movement of tectonic plates. At subduction zones, rocks are consumed (as the subducted plate 'dives' into the hot mantle) while at divergent boundaries, new rocks are formed due to floor spreading.

Solar energy is also significant in the rock cycle. Temperatures from solar energy cause weathering of rocks into soil. The soil is later washed off by precipitation and end up in the ocean beds where it settles down to form sedimentary rocks (and metamorphics rocks) over time.