Earth 202 EARTH'S INTERIOR


Winter 2008

Instructor: Seth Stein

T.A.: Laura Swafford


Course Information:

Course Syllabus
202 Handout - print to use as notes in class
Plate Boundaries Map


This website is based on a list of the major topics covered in class. For each topic, we give reading material from texts, information about the class demonstrations and laboratory exercises, and some of the supplementary resources available on the Internet. Try these out and tell us what you think!

Class Topics (Click to go to topic):

  1. Size, mass, & density of the Earth
  2. Seismic waves
  3. Minerals
  4. Composition of the crust, mantle, and core
  5. Radiometric age dating
  6. Origin of the elements and formation of the solar system
  7. Meteorites, formation of the planets
  8. Thermal evolution of planets
  9. Continental drift and paleomagnetism
  10. Earthquakes and plate tectonics
  11. Plate boundaries and kinematics
  12. Lab exercises
  13. Problem sets
  14. Extra Credit

TOPIC 1: Size, mass, & density of the Earth

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TOPIC 2: Seismic waves

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TOPIC 3: Minerals

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TOPIC 4: Composition of crust, mantle and core

  • Exploring the concepts

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    TOPIC 5: Radiometric age dating

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    TOPIC 6: Origin of the elements and formation of the solar system

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    TOPIC 7: Meteorites, formation of the planets

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    TOPIC 8: Thermal evolution of planets

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    TOPIC 9: Continental drift and paleomagnetism

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    TOPIC 10: Earthquakes and plate tectonics

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    TOPIC 11: Plate boundaries and kinematics

  • Exploring the concepts

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    Laboratory Exercises

    Attendance during the Lab period is mandatory to receive credit for the exercise. Exercises are due one week after the lab period. Make-ups are ONLY allowed by making advance arrangements through the Office of Studies. Late work will not be accepted.
    Lab Exercises are subject to change without notice and may be updated the week of the lab exercise.


    Problem Sets

    Problem sets are due one week after being assigned. Make-ups are ONLY allowed by making advance arrangements through the Office of Studies. Late work will be penalized no less than 25%.


    Extra Credit:

    Extra Credit 1: We are offering students the opportunity for extra credit points by reading the book Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe by Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee and turn in a write-up discussing the issues brought up in the book. The write-up should be at least five pages long, not including references or figures. This extra credit will be worth 12 points. It is due the first day of finals week, but may be turned in at any time.

    Extra Credit 2: We are offering extra credit to examine the possibility of water on Mars. To explore this idea further than the class time allows, students can write an essay about evidence from the Mars rovers that supports liquid water once existed on the surface of Mars. The write-up should be at least 5 pages no including figures and references and is due on the first day of finals week. This extra credit is worth 12 points.

    Extra Credit 3: Every Friday at 3 pm in Room 301 Locy Hall, the Department of Geological Sciences hosts a speaker, who discusses his or her current research relating to geology. The list of speakers, titles, and dates are available here. While not all the speakers cover topics directly relating to Geology 202: Earth's Interior, students are invited to attend all talks. For 3 points for each speaker, students can attend the talks and write a short 2-page summary. This extra credit is due two weeks after the talk.


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    AGU 2005 Education Poster
    A "Small is beautiful" approach to upgrading a beginning geophysics course

    This page is maintained by Laura Swafford
    Update: Jan 4, 2008