Physics of the Earth: Seeing the Unseen

Welcome to GEOS220:  This is a class for sophomore-level geoscience students, and anyone else interested in learning about geophysics. We identify the major methods of physics that govern processes in the Earth, explore the theory and applications in geophysics, such as hazards, environmental geophysics, exploration geophysics and (earthquake) seismology. GEOS220 is the prequel to 300-level geophysics classes. Emphasis will be on historical developments in geophysics and a qualitative understanding of the physics as well as the state-of-the-art of its application in the earth.

Format of classes

This class will be offered in-person and asynchronously as recorded lectures.  In-person lectures are MW at 12:00 to 1:15 (Mathematics Room 135) and lab meetings are either M or W 1:30 to 2:45 (ERB2104).  Please note that university policy asks students (and faculty) who are sick not to attend class.  I am very understanding about sick absences and will also be posting lectures for asynchronous review.

Instructors:

• Jeffrey Johnson (jeffreybjohnson@boisestate.edu); (ERB 3157, 3rd floor; facing stadium); Office hours will be on MW from 2:00 to 2:45.  Also feel free to show up in ERB2104 even if you don't have lab on those days). 

•  (primary TA) Casey Crawford (caseycrawford339@boisestate.edu).  Casey is available for regular office hours at 10 AM to 11 AM Tuesdays and Thursdays in the geoscience learning hub.  He also has office space in ERB in cubicle 5A.   Additional office hours including in-person available upon request.

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Class Website: https://sites.google.com/boisestate.edu/geos220f2024   or tinyurl.com/geos220f2024 

Prerequisites: MATH147/MATH144, or permission from instructor 

Textbook: (purchase is optional; may be found at Amazon) Looking into the earth, an introduction to geological geophysics

by Alan E. Mussett and M Aftab Khan, 2000, Cambridge University Press.  Note: we will only be focused on the following select chapters: 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 17, 20

Other reading materials: journal articles and relevant readings will be posted on this web site on the MATERIALS tab.

Grading:

• labs/problem sets totaling 55%; last problem set is worth double credit (*)

• Test #1  (in-class) on October 2nd = 10, 15, or 20% (**)

• Test #2 (take-home) assigned 23 November and due 11 days later = 10, 15, or 20% (***)

• Final Exam Test #3 on 9 December = 10, 15, or 20% (****)

*Lab grading policy: The lab (homework) must be turned in electronically to the TA  (as a pdf document) or as a hard copy one week after it has been introduced in both sections.  Submission should go to the TA.  Tardy assignments will be accepted up to one week late and given a 25% penalty.  Assignments more than one week late will not be accepted except with prior permission for extenuating circumstances.  Students can work in teams, but must do their own work and hand in their own assignment.

** In-class test: This multiple-choice test will be written for a 75-minute period.

***Take-home test: You MUST work independently on take-home tests.  Suspicion of collaboration will be grounds for issuing a report to dean of students.

**** Final exam: Exam will be during normal exam period in Math135 (Monday December 9th 12:00 to 2:00 PM)

Special note about the three exams.... lowest scoring test will be weighted at 10%, mid-scoring test will be 15%, and highest scoring test will be weighted at 20%.

FAQ...How do I get a good grade in this class?

• Do all labs completely and hand in on time.  Indicate work for partial grading credit (55% of your total grade).  

• For tests a good study guide is to review the powerpoint slides.  Do you understand the terminology and concepts?  Ask yourself if you feel comfortable with all the material presented in: a) lecture powerpoints (do you understand the figures?), b) laboratory materials (ask yourself do you intuitively understand the math and formulas associated with the questions), and c) reading materials (you don't need to understand everything in each paper that is assigned, but you should understand the gist of the paper and how to interpret the figures that have been discussed).

Note that you do NOT have to master all the material posted Musset and Khan chapters.  These are posted for additional information and only some of the figures and themes have been included in the slides.  Unless the information is in the slides you are NOT responsible for the Musset and Khan readings.  You are responsible for understanding interactive exercises and directed journal article readings that are reviewed in class.  All material introduced in the slides and in the labs is fair game for exams.