Undergraduate Course: Physics of the Earth (EASC08016)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | A comprehensive introduction to the physics of the Earth, concentrating on earthquake and controlled-source seismology, physical geodesy and the Earth's gravity field, and geomagnetism and geo-electricity. The course emphasises interpretation and understanding using the techniques of physics and mathematics. |
| Course description |
Part 1: Seismology: vibrations, waves and earthquakes (Ian Main)
L1. Basic elasticity: stress & strain tensors, elastic moduli
L2. Elastic waves: derivation of the 1-D wave equation for plane P and S waves
L3. Seismic refraction: two-layer problem for flat and dipping layers
L4. Seismic refraction: linear velocity change, Ray Tracing, Travel Time Curves
L5. Seismic recording: basic principles of the mechanical seismometer
L6. Seismic reflection: calculation of reflection coefficient at normal incidence
L7. The convolution model for a seismogram
L8. Seismic attenuation: geometric spreading, anelastic attenuation, and scattering
Part 2: Electricity and Magnetism (Wyn Williams)
L9. Fundamental units in magnetism and electricity
L10. The geomagnetic field; The magnetic field of a dipole; Multipole and spherical harmonic representation of the geomagnetic field
L11. Introduction to hydromagnetic dynamos
L12. Geomagnetic instrumentation and design
L13. Solar-terrestrial interactions of the geomagnetic field
L14. Telluric currents and the conductivity structure of the Earth.
L15. EM methods of prospecting
L16. Magnetic properties of rocks
Part 3: Gravity (Tetsuya Komabayashi, from Monday 20 March)
L17. Gravity and the gravitational constant, G
L18. The geo-potential
L19. Theory of the reference Earth model
L20. Earth's gravity field
L21. Interpretation: theory
L22 Interpretation: modelling
Tutorials Wednesdays
Seismology: Weeks 2,3,4,5
Electricity and Magnetism: Weeks 6, 8
Gravity: Weeks 10, 11
Practical Sessions Tuesdays
P1. Seismograms: seismic phases, travel-time curves, and earthquake location (Wk4: Assessed) Week Week 4: Tuesday (Assessed)
Handin: Week 6: Tuesday 12noon
P2. EM survey interpretation (Wk7: Assessed)
Week 7: Tuesday (Assessed)
Handin: Week 9: Tuesday 12noon
P3. Interpreting gravity and magnetic anomalies (Wk11: Assessed)
Week 11: Tuesday (Assessed)
Handin: Week 13: Tuesday 12noon
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | See above |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 26 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 9,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 3,
Summative Assessment Hours 3,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
149 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
70 %,
Coursework
30 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam: 70%, Course Work: 30 %, Practical Exam: 0%.
Exam Details: Online or In Person Exam
The exam consists of a single 3hr written paper in May.
Past exam papers: https://exampapers.ed.ac.uk/search/Physics+of+the+Earth
The coursework consists of three reports based the 3 Practicals (see below), each contributing 10% to the overall mark. The reports should not exceed 1500 words, excluding figures, figure captions and references. These three practical assessments must be handed in during Semester 2 with a report describing the aims, background, method, results and conclusions from each practical exercise.
These assessments will be submitted electronically on the Learn submission page. Any assessment handed in without a satisfactory explanation after the due date will be subject to an automatic penalty, so if you are aware of a problem, please do let the Course Organiser, the Course Administrator, and your Personal Tutor know before the hand-in date.
If you want to attain the best marks it is worth looking at the Common Marking scheme to understand how you will be assessed.
For information regarding the School of Geosciences policy for Special Circumstances please see:
http://www.ed.ac.uk/geosciences/teaching-organisation/staff/programme-studies-tutors/ugspec-circ
http://www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/taughtassessmentregulations.pdf
All details related to extensions procedures and late penalties can be found in the
https://www.ed.ac.uk/staff/supporting-students/academic-procedures/coursework-extensions.
P1 Week 6, 12noon (ASSESSED) via Turnitin submission box on Learn
P2 Week 9, 12noon (ASSESSED) via Turnitin submission box on Learn
P3 Week 13, 12noon (ASSESSED) via Turnitin submission box on Learn
Students must attain an overall mark of 40% (or above) to pass the course. |
| Feedback |
The tutorials are an opportunity to get feedback on exam relevant questions. You will get the most out of these by attempting the questions in advance. They are available on learn.
Further subject specific questions can be directed towards the relevant lecturers and/or the demonstrators.
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| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 3:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 3:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- You will have a broad, comprehensive overview of the physical processes operating in the solid Earth and its core, and a quantitative understanding of the principles of the geophysical techniques by which this information is derived.
- You will also have gained practical experience and understanding of geophysical techniques and how observations can be interpreted.
- These practical sessions will give you experience of carrying out routine lines of enquiry into professional level problems.
- You will be able to critically evaluate evidence based solutions to these problems.
- The assessed scientific report and degree exams will give you practise conveying complex information to a range of audiences for a range of purposes - a valuable transferable skill.
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Reading List
Recommended purchase:
Lowrie, W., 1997. Fundamentals of Geophysics, Cambridge Univ. Press.
Additional texts where funding allows:
Kearey, P.K., 1991. An introduction to Geophysical Exploration, Blackwell.
Stein S. and M. Wysession, 2003. Introduction to seismology, earthquakes and Earth structure, Blackwell. (Recommended purchase for those continuing to honours in geophysical subjects).
Shearer, P. 1999. Introduction to Seismology, Cambridge University Press.
Reference texts:
Fowler, C.M.R., 2005. The Solid earth: an introduction to Global Geophysics, Cambridge University Press.
Mussett, A. and A. Khan, 2000. Looking into the Earth, Cambridge University Press.
All of these are available in the reserve collection of the KB library. |
Additional Information
| Course URL |
http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/20-21/dpt/cxeasc08016.htm |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students MUST have passed: Mathematics for Physics 2 (PHYS08036) OR Algebra and Calculus (PHYS08041)
It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Introduction to Geophysics (EASC08008) OR Earth Science Fundamentals for Geophysicists (EASC08022)
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| Keywords | PoE |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Ian Main
Tel: (0131 6)50 4911
Email: Ian.Main@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Johan De Klerk
Tel: (0131 6)50 7010
Email: johan.deklerk@ed.ac.uk |
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