Earth 202 EARTH'S INTERIOR


Winter 2009

Instructor: Seth Stein

T.A.: Emily Martin


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

    • Return to the index



    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: Every Friday at 3:30 pm in Room 301 Locy Hall, the Department hosts a speaker who discusses current research. The list of speakers, titles, and dates is here. While not all the speakers cover topics directly relating to this course, we offer 3 points for a 2-page summary of each talk. This extra credit is due two weeks after the talk.

    Extra Credit 2: Book report
    We offer students 23 extra credit points for reading and reporting on one of two books:
    1) Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe by Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee
    2) Pompeii by Robert Harris
    Reviews should give your perspective of the book as both a book critic and a geologist. The write-up should be at least five pages long. It is due the first day of finals week, but may be turned in at any time.

    Extra Credit 3: Movie report
    We offer 4 extra credit points for watching and reporting on one of several movies shgowing Holywood's unusual ideas of geology:
    Capricorn One, 10.5, Volcano, The Core, Dante's Peak, Supervolcano.
    Reviews should give your perspective as both a movie critic and a geologist. The write-up should be at least two pages long. It is due the first day of finals week, but may be turned in at any time.


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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