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Karen Gella
12/15/2025
Earth Science
ENDOGENIC PROCESSES
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Dec 15, 2025
•
Understanding Endogenic Processes in Earth Science
Karen Gella
@cayennexxx
1 / 4
Understanding Endogenic Processes and Mountain Formation
Think of Earth as a giant machine with incredible forces working beneath your feet right now. Endogenic processes are internal forces that create some of our planet's most amazing features through two main actions: folding and faulting.
Orogenesis is the fancy term for mountain-building, coming from Greek words meaning "mountain birth." When you look at mountain ranges like the Sierra Madre, you're seeing evidence of enormous forces that bent and broke huge sections of Earth's crust over millions of years.
Folding happens when rock layers get squeezed horizontally, like pushing the sides of a tablecloth together. This creates anticlines (upward folds) and synclines (downward folds). Meanwhile, faulting occurs when rocks crack under pressure, creating fractures where sections of crust actually move past each other.
Key Insight: Those majestic mountains you see aren't just sitting there - they're proof of Earth's incredible internal power at work!
Types of Faults and How They Move
Understanding how rocks break and move helps explain why our landscape looks the way it does. Faulting creates three main types of movement that you can easily remember.
Normal faults happen when the hanging wall (upper rock block) slides down - imagine pulling apart a Kit-Kat bar. These occur where Earth's crust is being stretched apart. Reverse or strike-slip faults work the opposite way, with the hanging wall moving upward due to compression forces.
Thrust faults are special reverse faults that slope less than 45 degrees, while transform faults involve horizontal sliding motion - like rubbing your hands together sideways. The hanging wall is always the rock above the fault line, and the foot wall is below it.
Don't confuse faults with joints - these are simple cracks in rocks where no actual movement occurred. Think of joints as hairline fractures that didn't quite break all the way through.
Remember This: The type of fault tells you what forces were acting on the rocks - stretching, squeezing, or sliding!
Mountain Types and Earthquake Basics
Mountains aren't all created equal - there are four distinct types you should know. Folded mountains like the Himalayas are the largest and most complex, formed by massive compression. Volcanic mountains such as Mt. Mayon and Mt. Apo build up from repeated eruptions of lava and ash.
Fault-block mountains form when chunks of crust drop down or get pushed up along fault lines, while dome mountains (also called upwarped mountains) bulge upward like giant blisters in the Earth's surface.
Earthquakes are sudden vibrations caused by rapid energy release as rocks break along fault lines. Seismologists study these events using seismographs that record the shaking patterns called seismograms. The theory of plate tectonics explains why earthquakes happen - Earth's plates are constantly moving, building up stress until rocks finally snap.
Body waves travel through Earth's interior (P-waves push and pull, S-waves shake side to side), while surface waves move along the ground and cause most of the damage you see in earthquake footage.
Did You Know: You're experiencing tiny earthquakes right now - most are just too small for you to feel!
Earthquake Measurement and Volcanic Activity
When an earthquake strikes, scientists need to locate exactly where it started. The focus (or hypocenter) is the underground point where rocks first break, while the epicenter is the spot directly above it on Earth's surface. Seismologists use triangulation - like GPS positioning - to pinpoint these locations.
Intensity measures how much damage an earthquake causes at specific locations, while magnitude measures the total energy released. Think of magnitude as the size of a stereo speaker and intensity as how loud it sounds from different distances.
Volcanism (also called magmatism) involves the expulsion of molten rock from volcanoes, studied by experts called volcanologists. Every volcano has a vent (the opening), crater (the bowl at the top), and sometimes a caldera (a massive crater formed when the volcano collapses).
The three main volcano types are: Composite volcanoes , cinder cones , and shield volcanoes (broad and gentle, common in Hawaii). Each type erupts differently and creates distinct landscape features.
Quick Tip: Remember that composite volcanoes are the most dangerous because they can explosively shoot material several kilometers into the atmosphere!
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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
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Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
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I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
Understanding Endogenic Processes in Earth Science
Karen Gella
@cayennexxx
Ever wonder how mountains form or why earthquakes happen? These are all examples of endogenic processes- powerful forces working inside our Earth that shape the landscape around us. From the folded peaks of mountain ranges to the sudden shaking... Show more
Understanding Endogenic Processes and Mountain Formation
Think of Earth as a giant machine with incredible forces working beneath your feet right now. Endogenic processes are internal forces that create some of our planet's most amazing features through two main actions: folding and faulting.
Orogenesis is the fancy term for mountain-building, coming from Greek words meaning "mountain birth." When you look at mountain ranges like the Sierra Madre, you're seeing evidence of enormous forces that bent and broke huge sections of Earth's crust over millions of years.
Folding happens when rock layers get squeezed horizontally, like pushing the sides of a tablecloth together. This creates anticlines (upward folds) and synclines (downward folds). Meanwhile, faulting occurs when rocks crack under pressure, creating fractures where sections of crust actually move past each other.
Key Insight: Those majestic mountains you see aren't just sitting there - they're proof of Earth's incredible internal power at work!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Improve your grades
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By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Types of Faults and How They Move
Understanding how rocks break and move helps explain why our landscape looks the way it does. Faulting creates three main types of movement that you can easily remember.
Normal faults happen when the hanging wall (upper rock block) slides down - imagine pulling apart a Kit-Kat bar. These occur where Earth's crust is being stretched apart. Reverse or strike-slip faults work the opposite way, with the hanging wall moving upward due to compression forces.
Thrust faults are special reverse faults that slope less than 45 degrees, while transform faults involve horizontal sliding motion - like rubbing your hands together sideways. The hanging wall is always the rock above the fault line, and the foot wall is below it.
Don't confuse faults with joints - these are simple cracks in rocks where no actual movement occurred. Think of joints as hairline fractures that didn't quite break all the way through.
Remember This: The type of fault tells you what forces were acting on the rocks - stretching, squeezing, or sliding!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Improve your grades
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Mountain Types and Earthquake Basics
Mountains aren't all created equal - there are four distinct types you should know. Folded mountains like the Himalayas are the largest and most complex, formed by massive compression. Volcanic mountains such as Mt. Mayon and Mt. Apo build up from repeated eruptions of lava and ash.
Fault-block mountains form when chunks of crust drop down or get pushed up along fault lines, while dome mountains (also called upwarped mountains) bulge upward like giant blisters in the Earth's surface.
Earthquakes are sudden vibrations caused by rapid energy release as rocks break along fault lines. Seismologists study these events using seismographs that record the shaking patterns called seismograms. The theory of plate tectonics explains why earthquakes happen - Earth's plates are constantly moving, building up stress until rocks finally snap.
Body waves travel through Earth's interior (P-waves push and pull, S-waves shake side to side), while surface waves move along the ground and cause most of the damage you see in earthquake footage.
Did You Know: You're experiencing tiny earthquakes right now - most are just too small for you to feel!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Earthquake Measurement and Volcanic Activity
When an earthquake strikes, scientists need to locate exactly where it started. The focus (or hypocenter) is the underground point where rocks first break, while the epicenter is the spot directly above it on Earth's surface. Seismologists use triangulation - like GPS positioning - to pinpoint these locations.
Intensity measures how much damage an earthquake causes at specific locations, while magnitude measures the total energy released. Think of magnitude as the size of a stereo speaker and intensity as how loud it sounds from different distances.
Volcanism (also called magmatism) involves the expulsion of molten rock from volcanoes, studied by experts called volcanologists. Every volcano has a vent (the opening), crater (the bowl at the top), and sometimes a caldera (a massive crater formed when the volcano collapses).
The three main volcano types are: Composite volcanoes , cinder cones , and shield volcanoes (broad and gentle, common in Hawaii). Each type erupts differently and creates distinct landscape features.
Quick Tip: Remember that composite volcanoes are the most dangerous because they can explosively shoot material several kilometers into the atmosphere!
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user