GG304 Physics of the Earth and Planets, Spring 2015

Physics of the
Earth & Planets
 GG672

A study of the basic physics that controls Earth's shape, orbit, interior structure, and geological evolution


Instructor: Clint Conrad
      Contact: 804 POST, clintc@hawaii.edu

Teaching Assistant: C. Evan Watkins
      Contact: 824 POST, cewatkin@hawaii.edu

Lectures: Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 to 10:15 AM in POST 703
Laboratory: Monday 1:30 to 4:20 PM in POST 733
Office Hours: After class or by appointment
Text: Fundamentals of Geophysics by W. Lowrie

More Information: The course syllabus can be downloaded here:

Schedule and Handouts:

  • Week 1 (Jan 12-16): Planetary Orbits and Physics Review
               
  • Week 2 (Jan 19-23): Gravitation and Tides
               
  • Week 3 (Jan 26-30): Earth's Figure and Geoid
               
  • Week 4 (Feb 2-6): Gravity
               
  • Week 5 (Feb 9-13): Review and Midterm 1
               
  • Week 6 (Feb 16-20): Geomagnetism
               
  • Week 7 (Feb 23-27): Magnetic Anomalies
               
  • Week 8 (Mar 2-6): Heat Flow and Geotherms
               
  • Week 9 (Mar 9-13): Mantle Convection and Sea Level
               
  • Week 10 (Mar 16-20): Review and Midterm 2
               
  • Spring Break (Mar 23-27): No Class
               
  • Week 11 (Mar 30 - Apr 3): Elasticity and Seismic Waves
               
  • Week 12 (Apr 6-10): Seismic Wave Propagation
               
  • Week 13 (Apr 13-17): Earthquake Seismology
               
  • Week 14 (Apr 20-24): Seismic Hazard and Internal Earth Structure
               
  • Week 15 (Apr 27 - May 1): Review and Midterm 3 (alternate date: May 12, 9:45-11:00 AM)
               
  • Week 16 (May 4 - Apr 5): Wrap-Up