Physical Geology Study Guide

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on key terms and concepts from the Physical Geology study guide.

Physical geology

The branch of geology that focuses on the physical processes and materials that shape the Earth.

Uniformitarianism

The principle stating that the geological processes we observe today have been occurring throughout Earth's history.

Atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding Earth, essential for supporting life.

Magma

Molten rock found beneath the Earth's surface.

Sedimentary rocks

Rocks formed from the accumulation and compaction of mineral and organic particles.

Historical geology

The study of the Earth's history through the examination of rock layers and fossils.

Catastrophism

The theory that Earth's features are a result of sudden, short-lived, and violent events.

Relative dating

The method of determining the age of rocks and fossils in relation to one another.

Hydrosphere

The combined mass of water found on, under, and above the surface of a planet.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems, where life exists on Earth.

System

A set of interacting components forming a complex whole, often studied in geology.

Igneous rocks

Rocks formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.

Sediment

Small particles of rock and organic material that are transported by wind, water, or ice.

Metamorphic rock

Rock that has been altered from its original form by heat, pressure, or chemical processes.

Law of superposition

In a sequence of undisturbed sedimentary rocks, the oldest layers are at the bottom.

Principle of fossil succession

Fossil organisms succeed one another in a definitive recognizable order, allowing for relative dating.

Scientific method

A systematic process involving observation, hypothesis formation, experimentation, and conclusion.

Rock cycle

The continuous process of transformation of rocks from one type to another through geological processes.

Earth's interior classifications

Divided into the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core, differing in composition and physical state.