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Astronomy/Geology 104: Course Schedule
| Date | Topic | Images | Reading |
| 1.
Introduction |
Course
Logistics; getting to know one another (fill out and hand in this student questionnaire) |
Darby’s Life | Prelude (optional) |
| 2.
Origin of the Universe |
A short overview of the Big
Bang and how our solar system was formed, including the fundamentals of
spectroscopy and what we can learn from it. |
Origins video: Back to the Beginning center Doppler Shift: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 song police radar blackbody radiation |
Chapters
1 and 2 |
| 3.
Origin of Earth and our Solar System Feb. 9, 14, 16 HW #2 due Feb. 14 First quiz on Feb. 16 |
Here we'll focus in on the origins of our own solar system 3D tour of the solar system |
Origins video: Earth is Born | Chapters 1 and 2 |
| 4. Planetary
Interiors |
Now that we know what the solar system is made of, we can examine the interior structures of planets. First, we need to know how to determine the weight and size of a planet. Once we know its density, we can study its internal structure. Much of our knowledge of the interior structure of Earth comes from the science of seismology, which is the study of earthquakes. Here we'll learn why they happen, and how we measure, map, and try to predict them. | Slides |
|
| 5. Magnetic Fields and Planets Feb 28 Mar. 2 |
Here we will examine what gives a planet a magnetic field, and draw comparisons between the Earth and other planets. Is Earth's magnetic field in the process of reversing? What effects will this have on people and other species? | Magnetic Storm (NOVA video) |
Magnetism |
| 6.
Plate Tectonics
|
One of the seminal discoveries in 20th century science was the recognition of the process of plate tectonics, which explains how the Earth works. We'll take a historical approach to this topic, and examine the evidence for plate tectonics, and its implications for other planets (especially Venus and Mars). | Chapters 3 and
4 |
|
7. Planetary Atmospheres
|
We'll start off this topic with a guest appearnce from Sarah Oelker, who will introduce you to the skills you need to do Homework #5. On the Thursday before spring break, Sarah will give tours of necessary facilities in the library -- so class will meet for those who are interested at 11:00 and 1:15 (meet outside Rao's). After the break, we'll examine planetary atmospheres, which offer an excellent chance to discuss the greenhouse effect and the causes of global warming. We'll compare the atmospheres of all the planets in our solar system, with emphasis on Venus, Earth, and Mars. | Global warming video/Venus video from The Complete Cosmos | Earth-Venus-Mars
Runaway greenhouse Greenhouse effect Earth vs. Venus |
8.
Planetary Materials I |
What are planets made of? We will begin with abrief introduction
to the common elements in the Earth's crust, and how they bond together
to form minerals that can be recognized from satellites using spectroscopy.
Then we'll have a hands-on look at meteorites, which are our best evidence
of what other bodies in the solar system are like. We'll also study impacts,
which affected the Earth in the past, and will again in the future. |
Meteorites Meteorite Impact, pts. 1 and 2 (NOVA video) |
Meteorite classification Impact structures Impact hazards Near Earth Objects Dinosaur extinctions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
| 9. Planetary
Materials II HW
#6 due April 13 |
Here,
we'll further explore
the minerals that compose the exterior of terrestrial objects such as
planet and asteroids. We'll conclude by talking about gemstones, minerals
as part of everyday life, and mineral resources (including fossil fuels). |
Chapters
5, 14 and 15 |
|
| 10.
Volcanism on Terrestrial Planets |
Volcanoes
are the second most common geologic process on terrestrial planets. On
the Earth's surface, and they affect our lives. They also occur
on various bodies in our solar system including the Moon, Venus, and Io. |
Slides
Intru. Ig Rx Extru Ig Rx |
Chapters
6 and 9 |
| 11. Sediments,
Ages and Geologic Time |
Here we'll look at sedimentary rocks, and the interesting structures they form. We will also study geological time scales on terrestrial planets and discuss age dating. We will use cratering as a means for age dating on Mars and the Moon. |
Slides Sed Struct |
B
and Chapter 7 Chapters 12 and 13 |
12. Faults and Folds |
We'll learn here how surface features such as faults and folds can help us figure out the history of geological regions on terrestrial planets. | Slides | Chapter 11 |
|
This
page was created by Darby Dyar
and is maintained by her.
Last updated on 16 February, 2009 . |