12.002 | Fall 2008 | Undergraduate

Physics and Chemistry of the Terrestrial Planets

Calendar

LEC # TOPICS KEY DATES
1 Introduction and overview  
2 Solar system formation  
3 Origin of elements  
4 Origin of elements (cont.)  
5 Geochronology  
6 Geochronology (cont.)  
7 Age of the solar system  
8 Mass and moment of inertia  
9 Rheology and seismology  
10 Elastic stress strain relations Problem set 1 due
11 Seismic waves and wave equation  
12 Structure of the planets from seismology  
13 Heat and conduction Problem set 2 due
14 Heat convection  
15 The error function  
16 Oceanic subsidence and heat flow Problem set 3 due
17 Convective heat flow Problem set 4 due
18 Cooling planets Term paper topic due
19 Geomagnetism I  
20 Geomagnetism II Problem set 5 due
  Mid-term exam Mid-term exam
21 Polar wander and continental drift  
22 Plate tectonics Problem set 6 due
23 Plate tectonics (cont.)  
24 Plate tectonics (cont.)  
25 Plate tectonics (cont.) Term paper outline due, problem set 7 due
26 Isostasy  
27 Gravity anomalies  
28 Gravity anomalies (cont.)  
29 Topography and gravity data  
30 Planetary histories Term paper draft due, problem set 8 due
31 Planets  
  No class, special assignment  
32 Mercury  
33 Moon  
34 Venus Term paper due, problem set 9 due
35 Presentations  
36 Presentations (cont.)  
  Final exam: date to be announced  

Course Info

Learning Resource Types
Lecture Notes
Problem Sets