Editing Geophysics (section)

=== Beginnings of modern science ===
The 17th century had major milestones that marked the beginning of modern science. In 1600, [[William Gilbert (physicist)|William Gilbert]] release a publication titled ''[[De Magnete]]'' (1600) where he conducted  series of experiments on both natural magnets  (called [[Lodestone|'loadstones]]') and artificially magnetized iron.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=Review of "De Magnete" |url=https://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/earthmag/DMGRev2.htm |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov}}</ref> His experiments lead to observations involving a small compass needle ([[versorium]]) which replicated magnetic behaviours when subjected to a spherical magnet, along with it experiencing '[[magnetic dip]]s' when it was pivoted on a horizontal axis.<ref name=":12" /> HIs findings led to the deduction that compasses point north due to the Earth itself being a giant magnet.<ref name=":12" />

In 1687 [[Isaac Newton]] published his work titled ''[[Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica|Principia]]'' which was pivotal in the development of modern scientific fields such as [[astronomy]] and [[physics]].<ref name=":22">{{Citation |last=Smith |first=George |title=Newton's Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica |date=2008 |encyclopedia=The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy |editor-last=Zalta |editor-first=Edward N. |url=https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2008/entries/newton-principia/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |edition=Winter 2008 |publisher=Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University}}</ref> In it, Newton both laid the foundations for [[classical mechanics]] and [[gravitation]], as well as explained different geophysical phenomena such as the [[Axial precession|precession of the equinox]] (the orbit of whole star patterns along an [[Ecliptical pole|ecliptic axis]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Institute of Physics |date=February 18, 2024 |title=Precession of the equinoxes |url=https://spark.iop.org/precession-equinoxes#:~:text=The%20precession%20of%20the%20equinoxes%20is%20a%20slow%20rotation%20of,BC%20to%20~120%20BC). |access-date=February 18, 2024}}</ref> [[Newton's law of universal gravitation|Newton's theory of gravity]] had gained so much success, that it resulted in changing the main objective of physics in that era to unravel natures fundamental forces, and their characterizations in laws.<ref name=":22" />

The first [[seismometer]], an instrument capable of keeping a continuous record of seismic activity, was built by [[James David Forbes|James Forbes]] in 1844.<ref name=Dewey/>