Introduction to the Physics and Dynamics of the Earth
Syllabus, Bachelor's level, 1GE060
- Code
- 1GE060
- Education cycle
- First cycle
- Main field(s) of study and in-depth level
- Earth Science G1N, Physics G1N
- Grading system
- Fail (U), Pass (3), Pass with credit (4), Pass with distinction (5)
- Finalised by
- The Faculty Board of Science and Technology, 4 March 2021
- Responsible department
- Department of Earth Sciences
Entry requirements
General entry requirements and Physics 2, Mathematics 4/Mathematics E
Learning outcomes
On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
- Explain the development of plate boundaries over time.
- Describe Earth's magnetic and gravity field and how it relates to Earth's shape and structure.
- Explain how earthquakes are described as strike-slip, normal and reverse mechanisms from global observations of seismic waves.
- Explain the evolution and dynamics of Earth's subduction zones, mid-ocean ridges, continental shelves and sedimentary basins.
Content
Plate tectonics. Earth's magnetic field and palaeomagnetism. Earth formation. Dating methods and radioactive isotopes. Earth's shape and gravity field, the geoid, isostasy. Seismicity, source mechanisms, stress fields. Heat flow in continental and oceanic plates. Convection in the Earth's mantle and core. Earth composition from core to lithosphere. Structure and formation of oceanic and continental crust.
Instruction
Lectures, exercises, seminar presentations.
Assessment
Written examination (4 hp), assignments (1 hp).
If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.