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An Introduction to Geology
Objectives
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 After reading, studying, and discussing Chapter 1, you should be able to:
- Define geology and describe the difference between its two broad areas—physical geology and historical geology.
- Discuss the difference between catastrophism and uniformitarianism and the contributions of James Hutton to the science of geology.
- Explain relative dating and describe the geologic time scale.
- Discuss the nature of scientific inquiry.
- List and describe the major components of Earth's physical environment and the principal divisions of Earth's surface.
- Explain the Earth system and identify the two sources of energy that power it.
- Describe the rock cycle and the role of various geologic processes in transforming one rock type into another.
- Identify and describe the two principal divisions of Earth's surface.
- Discuss the nebular hypothesis and the origin of planet Earth.
- Discuss the theory of plate tectonics and list the three types of plate boundaries.
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