What scientific discipline involves the study of physical properties and processes of the Earth?

Geophysics is the scientific discipline that focuses on understanding the Earth's physical properties and processes. This includes the study of seismic activity, magnetic and gravitational fields, heat flow, and the internal structure of the Earth. Geophysicists apply principles from physics and mathematics to explore various phenomena that occur within and on the Earth's surface. This discipline is crucial for a variety of applications, such as natural resource exploration, understanding geological hazards, and studying the Earth's climate and environment over geological timescales.

In contrast, genetics deals with the inheritance of traits and the role of genes in living organisms, while environmental science encompasses a broader study of interactions between biological, chemical, and physical components of the environment. Biology focuses on living organisms and their interactions with each other and their environments. These areas, while equally important in their own right, do not specifically address the physical properties and processes of the Earth as geophysics does.