An examination of the geologic and geochemical processes at work in the solar system from the perspectives supplied by space age exploration of the planets and other solar system bodies.
Textbook
An Introduction to the Solar System, Eds. N. McBride and I. Gilmour.
ISBN 0-521-54620-6
Course Outline
The course will approximately follow the structure of the textbook:
Week 1, 8/31-9/4:
Introduction; Background
Week 2, 9/9-9/11:
Ch. 1: Tour of the Solar System — Terrestrial Planets
Week 3, 9/14-9/18:
Ch. 1: Tour of the Solar System — Gas Giants, Formation of SS; Ch. 2: Internal Structure of the Terrestrial Planets — Understanding Internal Structure
Week 4, 9/21-9/25:
Ch. 2: Internal Structure — Earth’s Core; Heat sources and transport; Plate Tectonics; Terrestrial Interiors
Week 5, 9/28-10/2:
Ch. 2: Outer satellite interiors; Ch. 3: Planetary Volcanism
Midterm 1 on 9/30
Week 6, 10/5-10/9:
Ch. 3: Planetary Volcanism
Week 7, 10/12-10/16:
Ch. 4: Planetary Surface Processes
Week 8, 10/19-10/23:
Ch. 4: Planetary Surface Processes; Radiometric dating
Midterm 2 on 10/23
Week 9, 10/26-10/30:
Ch. 5: Atmospheres of Terrestrial Planets
Week 10, 11/2-11/6:
Orbits; Ch. 6: Giant Planets
Week 11, 11/9-11/13:
Ch. 6: Giant Planets; Ch. 7: Minor Bodies of the Solar System
Week 12, 11/16-11/20:
Ch. 7: Minor Bodies of the Solar System
Midterm 3 on 11/18
Week 13, 11/23-11/25:
Ch. 7: Minor Bodies of the Solar System; Ch. 8: Origin of the Solar System
Week 14, 11/30-12/4:
Ch. 8: Origin of the Solar System; Ch. 9: Meteorites
Week 15, 12/7-12/11:
Ch. 9: Meteorites
Final exam: Thursday, Dec. 17, 1:30-3:30
The lectures will significantly enhance the reading, and in some cases depart entirely from the subject matter covered by the textbook. In this course, as in most others, there is historically a strong correlation between attendance and grades.
Grades and Course Requirements
Assignments 10%
Presentation 15%
Paper 10%
Midterms (3) 15% each
Final 20%
Each student will make one short presentation at some point
in the semester, and provide a write-up on this topic. Details will be given in
class. In addition, there will be a small number of class assignments, and a
few exams.
