Physics of the Earth for ISP (350-0-01)

Instructors

Elvira Mulyukova

Meeting Info

Meets in Non-General PurposeRm: Mon, Wed, Fri 9:00AM - 9:50AM

Overview of class

Fundamental physical processes necessary for an understanding of solid Earth processes, with the emphasis on plate tectonics and mantle convection. A summary of numerous geological, seismological, and paleomagnetic observations will be covered. Many geological problems involving heat conduction and solid and fluid mechanics require solutions of such classic partial differential equations as Laplace's equation, Poisson's equation, the biharmonic equation, and the diffusion equation. All these equations will be derived from first principles in the geological contexts in which they are used. We will cover elementary explanations for such important physical properties of matter as solid-state viscosity, thermal coefficient of expansion, and specific heat.

Registration Requirements

Second-year standing in ISP, or equivalent background in physics and mathematics and permission of both ISP director and instructor.
No previous geological science required.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, students will be able to:
• Understand the dynamics of the solid Earth and generalize it to other planetary bodies
• Discuss the theory of plate tectonics, the geological evidence for it, and the physical processes that govern it
• Set up simple quantitative physics-based models to interrogate the thermal and dynamic evolution of Earth's crust, lithosphere, and mantle

Teaching Method

Lectures, class discussions.

Evaluation Method

The students will be assessed based on:
10% - Class participations (attendance, participation in class discussions and Q&A sessions),
20% - Midterm exam,
40% - Weekly homework assignments,
30% - Final exam

Class Materials (Required)

Turcotte, D. L., & Schubert, G. (2002). Geodynamics. Cambridge university press. ISBN: 9780521186230. Second edition or newer.
~$100 new, or ~$50 used.

Class Notes

Non-ISP undergraduates and graduate students interested in enrolling in this course should contact the instructor for more information.

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: ISP Majors