Chapter 1. Introduction to Geology
Adapted by Karla Panchuk from Physical Geology by Steven Earle
![Badlands in southern Saskatchewan. Erosion has exposed layers of rock going back more than 65 million years.](https://openpress.usask.ca/app/uploads/sites/29/2017/05/SK_badlands.png)
Learning Objectives
After reading this chapter and answering the review questions at the end, you should be able to:
- Explain what geology is, and why we study Earth.
- Describe the kinds of work that geologists do.
- Explain what is meant by geological time.
- Explain how the principle of uniformitarianism allows us to translate observations about Earth today into knowledge about how Earth worked in the past.
- Summarize the main idea behind the theory plate tectonics.