Difference between “geographical” and “geological” for my 11-year-old daughter.
In: Other
Geological is all the mountains and oceans and natural landscape. Geography is that but then also the stuff people added like towns and cities and countries.
Geographical = physical properties of an area (topography, climate, etc). Geological = the structure and substance of an area.
Geographical: what’s happening above the ground
Geological: what’s happening below the ground
Geographical: the surface of the earth and it’s locations, formations, etc.
Geological: the structure of the earth below the surface, its constituents, etc.
For the kid: if you look at the fur of a teddy bear, you are looking at its geography. When the teddy bear gets damaged and you see the white fuzz come out, you are seeing its geology, the stuff under the surface.
Geology is focused on the Earth’s physical materials and processes, while geography examines the spatial relationships and interactions between people and their environment.
It might be easiest for her to examine the roots of the words. Geo means Earth in both cases. The root word graphic has to do with charting and mapping. This is what geography is, the mapping of the earth’s landforms. The root word logic means to study. Geology is largely the study of the physical composition of the earth.
There’s a lot of overlap, but to put it simply:
Geographical = all the current physical features of an area
Geological = the rocks and history of an area
Geography is comes from Greek roots: Geo (earth) graphy (writing). Geography is concerned with writing down the physical aspects (terrain) of the Earth and how humans and creatures interact with it.
Geology, “earth study” is a science that deals with the history of the Earth by studying rocks or other solid matter to understand how or why the earth has changed over many years.
Maybe far from scientifically correct but:
Geographical: where and how it is
Geological: what it’s made of
Geography answers who and where questions. Geology answers the what and how.
If your 11 year old were studying Iceland, a geography book about Iceland would cover who lives there, where cool landmarks and distinct areas are.
The geology book would cover what Iceland is made of and how things like the hot springs formed.
A map e.g. shows geographical stuff. Rule of thumb: geo-graphics, like sketches, paintings and things like that.
Different kind of rocks are defined by geological knowledge. Vulcanoes are geological related, too.
Latest Answers