Geology The study of the materials that make up Earth, the

processes that form and change these materials, and the history of
the planet and its life-forms since its origin is the branch of Earth
science known as geology. Geologists identify rocks, study glacial
movements, interpret clues to Earths 4.6-billion-year history, and
determine how forces change our planet.

Physical geology is the study of the earth's rocks, minerals, an d

soils and how they have formed through time. Complex internal
processes such as plate tectonics and mountain-building have formed
these rocks and brought them to the earth's surface . Earthquakes are
the result of the sudden movement of crustal plates, releasing internal
energy that becomes destructive at the surface. Internal heat and
energy are released also through volcanic eruptions. External processes
such as glaciation, running water, weathering, and erosion
have formed the landscapes we see today.
Geology is the study of the Earth, including the materials
that it is made of, the physical and chemical
changes that occur on its surface and in its interior,
and the history of the planet and its life forms.