Earth's Interior (202-0-01)

Instructors

Suzan van der Lee
847/491-8183
Tech F494
Office Hours: By appointment

Meeting Info

Technological Institute F285: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

Mechanics of plate tectonics; past plate motions; seismic waves; earthquake mechanisms; earth structure from seismology; shape, size, density, & gravity of the Earth; radiometric age dating; heat and temperature in the Earth; composition and dynamics of mantle and core; oceanic & continental lithosphere, minerals & rocks; planetary formation. Students should be familiar with calculus, introductory physics, introductory chemistry. Some familiarity with computer programming or other ways to process and visualize data (e.g. spreadsheet) is also expected.

Registration Requirements

Recommended Background: experience with differential and integral calculus as well as data processing and visualization.

Teaching Method

Two 80-minute lectures per week, One 2-hour lab section.

Evaluation Method

Quizzes related to homework problems, lab reports, midterm and final exams.

Class Materials (Required)

Physical copy:
The Solid Earth: An Introduction to Global Geophysics by C.M.R. Fowler (Cambridge University Press, 2nd edition). ISBN: 9780521893077. ~$50 new.

Digital copy is free through NU library using your NetID at this link: https://libguides.northwestern.edu/hecup.

Class Attributes

Natural Sciences Foundational Discipline
Natural Sciences Distro Area
See Class Details for Important Registration Info

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Registration is reserved for Earth and Environmental Science majors & minors during the pre-registration period.

Associated Classes

LAB - Technological Institute F389: Fri 12:00PM - 1:50PM

LAB - Technological Institute F389: Fri 2:00PM - 3:50PM