Geology is the scientific study of the Earth, focusing on its structure, composition, processes, and history. Geology seeks to understand the materials that make up the planet, the physical and chemical processes that act upon them, and the history of the Earth and its life forms as recorded in rocks. This includes the study of minerals, rocks, fossils, earthquakes, volcanoes, and landforms, as well as the processes such as plate tectonics, erosion, and sedimentation that have shaped the Earth's surface over time.