Undergraduate Course: Earth Modelling and Prediction 2 (EASC08018)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | A mathematical description of Earth systems can both aid in prediction of these systems and lead to deeper understanding. In addition, many disciplines in the geosciences are becoming increasingly quantitative. This course is designed to give students mathematical skills needed to understand geoscience problems involving differentiation, integration, differential equations and the derivation of conservation equations. These topics are presented in a geoscience context, with techniques applied to environmental fluid mechanics, geochemistry, geomorphology, glaciology and thermal properties of the Earth.
Students will learn through problem sets, online quizzes, readings and tutorial sessions.
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| Course description |
Week 1: Introduction, application of mathematics to natural systems
Week 2: Differentiation, applied differentiation
Week 3: Integration; introduction, rules, applied integration
Week 4: Partial differentiation and coordinate systems
Week 5: Applied partial differentiation and multiple integrals
Week 6: Ordinary Differential Equations; Heat equation and Diffusion equation
Week 7: Conservation equations: derivation using Taylor expansion and divergence theorem
Week 8: Examples of conservation equations
Week 9: More examples of conservation equations
Week 10: Can we do this in a computer? and review
Earth Modelling and Prediction 2 is a compulsory course for Environmental Geoscience, Geology and Geology & Physical Geography students with GCSE A-level Maths at Grade C or below, or Advanced Higher Maths at Grade D or below.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Earth Modelling and Prediction (GESC08002)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | The above course or equivalent Highers |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2018/19, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 75 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 30,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 9,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
157 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam: 60%, Course Work: 40%, Practical Exam: 0%.
The assessment consists of 3 marked problem sets (in aggregate worth 40% of the mark) and a two hour final examination. Each problem set will be weighted in terms of the marks, and the examination is worth 60% of the final mark.
PROBLEM SETS
There will be 3 problem sets. Each will be marked out of 100 (they will contain 25-50 questions each). One learns mathematical techniques through repetition of problems, so these problem sets are essential if students are to meet the course objective of being able to apply mathematical techniques to geoscience problems. Problems similar to those on the problem sets will be presented in tutorials, so attendance in tutorials is essential.
OWN WORK ON PROBLEM SETS
Students are encouraged to study in groups. However, when completing problem sets students are expected to solve problems independently. You cannot learn this subject if you do not solve problems yourself. Submission of identically worked problem sets, particularly if they have the same wrong answer, or problem sets whose answers do not match up with the work shown, may be flagged for plagiarism enquiry.
EXAM
The exam will consist of short answer questions and will be worth 60% of the overall course mark. Students should expect questions broadly similar to those on the problem sets. We will distribute a mock exam which will be the same format as the exam at the end. The exam questions will vary in difficulty; there will be questions that test the basics and questions that only students who have studied beyond the lectures can answer. Remember over 70 is a first and a mark of 90 or above indicates truly exceptional work.
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| Feedback |
- Demonstrator-led tutorial sessions in which students will arrive having worked through some or all of the current week's tutorial problem set and ask the demonstrators to work through more challenging problems on whiteboard
- Self- or group-led tutorial sessions where the students will arrive having worked through some or all of the current week's tutorial problem set and ask lecturers and demonstrators for personal guidance
- Answers to select problems from tutorial problem set will be posted on LEARN in following week
Examples of feedback can be found here: http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/geosciences/teaching-organisation/staff/feedback-and-marking
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| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 2:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Differentiate simple equations
- Integrate simple equations
- Solve simple differential equations
- Derive and solve conservation equations for natural systems
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Reading List
| Stroud and Booth, Engineering Mathematics, Palgrave MacMillan |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Daniel Goldberg
Tel: (0131 6)50 2561
Email: Dan.Goldberg@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Nicola Clark
Tel: (0131 6)50 4842
Email: nicola.clark@ed.ac.uk |
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