Geology: Intro and Nature of Geology

What is geology

study of the origin, history and structure of the earth and processes that shape the earth

what do geologists do?

They study the Earth's rocks, minerals, and processes to understand its past, monitor its present, and predict its future

Why is geology important to our modern world?

It enables us to find and manage vital resources like energy, minerals, and water, and it helps us understand and mitigate natural hazards such as earthquakes and landslides.

What is science

the study of the natural world

What is the Scientific Method?

Make observation, question, hypothese, test hypothese, gather data, refine, alter, expand or reject hypothese

What is a hypothesis?

a testable statement or prediction

What's the difference between written and graphical hypotheses?

They both predict relationships between variable. Written uses specific words to predicted statement while graphical uses diagrams to show the relationship

What is a theory?

well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations

what does theory have to do with consilience?

theory and consilience are intertwined through the practice of using multiple, independent lines of evidence to build, test, and strengthen broad explanatory theories.

What is consilience?

Other peers review the hypotheses and see if they get a similar answer as the original scientist to make sure the scientist is not faking there answers.

What is a theoretical model?

a scientific hypothesis used to explain and predict natural geological processes, structures, and Earth's evolution

What is an empirical model?

statistical relationship built purely from observations and data, what we see with our 5 senses

How do geologists use empirical models

Geologists create predictive models to identify potential locations for new mineral or petroleum deposits. These models analyze spatial data, such as geochemistry, rock type, and topography, to find areas with a high probability of containing resources.

What is pseudoscience

a collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method.

How is pseudoscience different from "science"?

Pseudoscience cannot always be tested, repeatable, verifiable, or understood

What impacts does pseudoscience have on society?

causing direct harm to people's health, eroding public trust in science and expertise, and promoting flawed, irrational decision-making.

What is an objective, and why is it significant in science

Objectivity is the principle of describing and analyzing the world in a neutral, unbiased, and factual way.

What is subjective and why is it significant in science

describes personal feelings, experiences, and viewpoints.

What is qualitative and why is it significant in science

non-numerical, descriptive data, like words and observations.

What is quantitative and why is it significant in science

formation expressed as numerical values that can be counted, measured, or given a specific numerical value.