GENERAL
When: January 9 - April 26, 2007; Tues., Thurs., 9:35 - 10:55 am
Where: ES&T L1116
Office Hours: Tuesdays from 3:00 - 4:30 pm, Fridays from 2:00 - 3:30 pm, and by appointment.
If I am not in my office check the Geophysics Lab (room 2235).
Course Objectives:This course is a quantitative discussion of the
physical properties of earth materials and dynamic processes in the solid Earth.
We will closely follow Geodynamics by Turcotte & Schubert, in covering topics
in stress and strain, elasticity and flexure,
heat transfer, gravity, fluid mechanics, rock rheology, and crustal faulting as
mechanisms and consequences of plate tectonics.
Required Text:
- Turcotte, D.L., & G. Schubert, Geodynamics: 2nd Edition, Cambridge University Press, 456 pp., 2002.
Referenced Text; no need to purchase:
- Davies, G.F. Dynamic Earth: Plates, Plumes and Mantle Convection, Cambridge University Press, 458 pp., 1999.
- Harte, J., Consider a Spherical Cow: A Course in Environmental Problem Solving, University Science Books, 283 pp., 1988.
- Kearey, P. & F.J. Vine, Global Tectonics, Blackwell Publishing, 333 pp., 1996.
- Stein, S.A.,&& M. Wysession, An Introduction to Seismology, Earthquakes, and Earth Structure, Blackwell Publishing, 498 pp., 2003.
Class Communications:
You will occasionally receive class information
via email to your prism account. Because this information may not be communicated
in class, you should be sure to read messages identified as [EAS 6312].
In emailing me for class, please add [EAS 6312] to the subject line and
identify yourself by name in the message since not all prism accounts clearly
identify the email's author.
Course Outline:
This is an approximate outline of topics and timing and is subject to change throughout the semester.
| Week | Date | Topic | Exam |
| 1,2 | Jan 9 - 18 | Introduction to Plate Tectonics, Geodynamics and mathematical approximation | |
| 3,4 | Jan 23 - Feb 1 | Stress and Strain in Solids | |
| 5,6 | Feb 6 - 15 | Elastic Deformation | |
| 7,8 | Feb 20 - Mar 1 | Heat Transfer (Driving force for Tectonics) | |
| 9,10 | Mar 6 - 15 | Gravity | Exam 1 (Mar 6) |
| 11 | Mar 19 - 23 | Spring break (no class) | |
| 12 | Mar 27 - Mar 29 | Fluid Mechanics | |
| 13-15 | Apr 3 - 17 | Rock Rheology and Faulting | |
| 15,16 | Apr 19 - 26 | Project Presentations | Exam 2 (Apr 26) |
EVALUATION:
Your course grade will be based on three criteria: homework (20%), exams (60%), and a project (20%).
Homework:
Homework will be assigned approximately every 3rd week and will be due one week
from assignment. I will not accept late homework without authorizing such beforehand.
See the academic honesty section (below), for information on working together.
Exams:
There will be two equally weighted exams that will be administered during normal class hours.
Each exam will focus on material covered since the previous exam, however knowledge of previously covered
material will be expected to fully complete any exam. Missed exams will receive a score of
zero unless approved and rescheduled beforehand.
Project:
For your class project, you will review and present on a topic of your choosing in geodynamics using
relevant research and review articles from peer-reviewed scientific
literature (not National Geographic or Scientific American, but journals like
Science, Nature, Journal of Geophysical Research, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, etc...).
In order to receive full credit for the project you must read and synthesize no less than three
papers on the subject. You will, however have the opportunity to receive 10% extra credit on the project if you
1) outline a new approach to addressing an unresolved problem;
2) uniquely solve a problem;
3) perform unique numerical calculations to determine parameter sensitivities and/or feasibility of measurement;
or
4) perform a physical analog or unique computational experiment to test hypothesis.
Your final project will be written up in journal form suitable for Geophysical Research
Letters (GRL), and will be presented in a 15 minute AGU-style talk (12 minute presentation with
3 minutes of questions).
For guidelines on document preparations for GRL submissions go to
http://www.agu.org/pubs/au_contrib_rev.html.
Grading for your project will be based on the quality of your paper (40%), presentation (40%) and participation
during others' presentations (20%).
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
General: It is expected that all students are aware of their individual
responsibilities under the Georgia Tech Academic Honor Code, which will be
strictly adhered to in this class.
Problem Sets: Students are encouraged to work together on developing
solutions to problem sets; however, the solutions/answers that are turned
in must be the work of each individual. Include the name of individuals consulted
for each problem that you sought aid in answering (including me).
Project: Each student is expected to develop her/his unique project, thus
there should be no copying from others in class. Plagiarism is strictly forbidden.
Plagiarism
is the act of appropriating the literary composition
of another, or parts of passages of his or her writings,
or language or ideas of the same, and passing them off as
the product of one's own mind. It involves the deliberate
use of any outside source without proper acknowledgment
(as defined by the
Georgia Tech Academic Honor Code).
Exams: All information required for exams will be supplied. Reference
to texts or other documents during exams is strictly forbidden. The use of
electronic devices (e.g. cellular phones, computers etc.) other than
non-programmable calculators during exams and quizzes is not allowed.
The complete text of the Academic Honor Code may be found at http://www.deanofstudents.gatech.edu/integrity/policies/honor_code.html.
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gatech.edu | Updated:
Wed Mar 7 22:16:03 EST 2007
