EXPLANATION
- a) Geophysics
- b) Atomic physics
- c) Astrophysics
- d) Solid-state physics
ANSWER: a) Geophysics
EXPLANATION:
The branch of physics that focuses on the study of the Earth's physical properties, processes, and structure is a) Geophysics. Geophysics is a subfield of physics that combines principles from geology, physics, and mathematics to investigate the Earth's composition, structure, and dynamics. It involves studying various aspects of the Earth, including its gravitational and magnetic fields, seismic waves, heat flow, plate tectonics, and the behavior of Earth materials under different conditions. Geophysicists use a range of methods and instruments to collect data and analyze Earth's physical properties, enabling them to understand phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the Earth's internal and surface processes. Atomic physics focuses on the study of atoms and their structure, astrophysics focuses on celestial objects and phenomena in the universe, and solid-state physics deals with the behavior and properties of solid materials.