Physical Geology: Exploring the Earth is designed for a one-semester introductory course in geology that serves both majors and nonmajors in geology and the Earth sciences. One of the problems with any introductory science course is that students are overwhelmed by the amount of material that must be learned. Furthermore, most of the material does not seem to be linked by any unifying theme and does not always appear to be relevant to their lives. This book, however, is written to address that problem in that it shows, in its easy-to-read style, that geology is an exciting and ever changing science, and one in which new discoveries and insights are continually being made.
1. Understanding Earth : A Dynamic and Evolving Planet
2. Plate Tectonics : A Unifying Theory
3. Minerals—The Building Blocks of Rocks
4. Igneous Rocks and Intrusive Igneous Activity
5. Volcanoes and Volcanism
6. Weathering, Erosion, and Soil
7. Sediment and Sedimentary Rocks
8. Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks
9. Geologic Time: Concepts and Principles
10. Earthquakes
Etc.