Earth Sciences

AIMS

This course is intended to introduce Earth science students to the basic fundamental principles of mathematics and physics, assuming minimal previous knowledge. The student will be taught the essential tools of mathematics required for the geology, environmental geoscience and planetary science degrees, and will study the basic principles of physics behind the fundamental processes occurring within the Earth and our solar system. Practical sessions and problem classes will illustrate the material covered within the lectures and will give the students training in good experimental techniques and scientific methods. In addition, the student will develop computer skills through exercises in word-processing, spreadsheet analysis and graph drawing.

CONTENT

Topics studied in lectures and practicals include:

• Geometry and Co-ordinates (Measurement and geometry);
• Exponents and Graphs. (Graphical Methods);
• Dimensional Analysis and Mechanics 1. (Graphs and Computers);
• Mechanics 2 and Elasticity.(Determining 'g');
• Waves and Light. (The nature of light);
• Thermal and Transport Processes. (Viscosity);
• Electricity and Magnetism.(Electromagnetism);
• Differentiation and Integration.(Finite vs. Infinitesimal);
• Errors and Statistics.(Elementary Statistics).