Teaching introductory geophysics:

what our students dont know, need to,

and what we can do
Seth Stein
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208
seth@earth.northwestern.edu
This presentation at
http://www.earth.northwestern.edu/people/seth/Lectures/teachinggp.ppt

Solid earth concepts

can be taught purely
descriptively at the
100-level
But this is teaching
science as magic, not
geophysics
Davidsonetal

AGI: Geophysics is a
branch of experimental
physics dealing with
the earth

NU introductory geophysics:
-First geophysics class (200-level) for geology majors,
engineers, or other science folk
-Typically sophomores or juniors
- Some have descriptive (100-level) intro to earth science
- Math, physics, chemistry prerequisite or corequisites
- Global/planetary perspective
- Course goes beyond descriptive
- Try to challenge students & prepare them for higher level
classes

Intro geophysics classes integrate topics that wed like

students to know from other classes, but often dont
know well (or at all). These can include

Earthstructure
Earthprocesses
Geologictime

GEOPHYSICS
GEOLOGY

Vectors&
vectordiff.
operators()

Mechanics PHYSICS
E&M
Waves

Heat&temperature
Howwemeasurethese

MATH

Spherical
geometry
Calculus

SimpleODE
&PDE
Problemsolving(notjustplugin)
(wave,heat)

In practice, we need to review - or teach - much of these

This is OK since many students learn them better in context
We cant do detailed derivations, but can give intuition &
contexts (often common to different applications)
Earthstructure
Earthprocesses
Geologictime

GEOPHYSICS
GEOLOGY

Vectors&
vectordiff.
operators()

Mechanics PHYSICS
E&M
Waves

Heat&temperature
Howwemeasurethese

MATH

Spherical
geometry
Calculus

SimpleODE
&PDE
Problemsolving(notjustplugin)
(wave,heat)

Seek to improve students understanding of both

underlying concepts & geophysical application

Earthstructure
Earthprocesses
Geologictime

GEOPHYSICS
GEOLOGY

Vectors&
vectordiff.
operators()

Mechanics PHYSICS
E&M
Waves

Heat&temperature
Howwemeasurethese

MATH

Spherical
geometry
Calculus

SimpleODE
&PDE
Problemsolving(notjustplugin)
(wave,heat)

Tradeoff between breath of topics covered & depth of

each (underlying math & physics) depends on class
goals & composition
Earthstructure
Earthprocesses
Geologictime

GEOPHYSICS
GEOLOGY

Vectors&
vectordiff.
operators()

Mechanics PHYSICS
E&M
Waves

Heat&temperature
Howwemeasurethese

MATH

Spherical
geometry
Calculus

SimpleODE
&PDE
Problemsolving(notjustplugin)
(wave,heat)

VECTORS
Physics independent of
coordinate system (F=ma)
Magnitude-angle vs components
Steinetal,
2007

Magneticfield

Vector operations (sum,

gradient, curl, etc.)

Platemotion

SPHERICAL GEOMETRY
Latitude & longitude
Vector components: (r,, ),
(N-S, E-W, up-down), (x,y,z)
Unit vectors in non-Cartesian system
VDOs in spherical coordinates
Operations must be done in Cartesian
Stein&Wysession,
2003

Platemotion

Steinetal,
2007

Magneticfield

SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS/LEAST SQUARES

Can motivate w/o math or w/simple algebra

Davidson et al, 2002

GPS receiver finds position with radio signals from different satellites
Locating earthquake from arrivals at multiple seismometers
Tomography

MECHANICS
F=ma

Magneticfield
torqueon
magneticdipole
causes

Weight vs mass
Gravity on different
planets
Objects of different
mass fall at same
speed

Compasstowork

Torque
Magnetic surveys
Paleomagnetism

Thermal
Remnant
Magnetization

Steinetal,2007

Need to understand
cross product

ROTATION
(CIRCULAR MOTION)
Torque, angular velocity &
momentum, moment of
inertia

Steinetal,2007

Need to understand cross

product & vector nature of
acceleration

L=I
Precessionmagnetometer

PlatemotionMomentofinertia

ELECTROMAGNETISM
How fields arise
Columbs law
B from moving charges

B
V
Spinner
magnetometer

V=dfluxB/dt

Lorentz force
Maxwells equations

Steinetal,2007

How we measure & use

fields
Massspectrometer
(agedating)
F=q(E+vxB)
Circularmotion

SEISMOLOGY

U(x,t)

Waves in space & time

Observe as either
Period, wavelength,
speed (c=/T) &
dimensions
Relation between wave
fronts and rays
t

Wavefront

Ray

x
Stein&Wysession,
2003

SEISMOLOGY

Idea of geometric optics:

when we can use rays,
when we need waves
Travel time vs amplitude

Inquiringminds
wanttoknow

T2
Stein&Wysession,
2003

Likeboatswake

wavefront>ray

Huygens
principle
graphic

T1
To

DIFFRACTION

Non-geometric
optical arrivals
Frequency
dependent (hear
but not see around
corners)
core

D/2d

Migrationundoes
diffraction

Single
Interface DEPTH
slit
end
diffraction

TIME

Stein&Wysession,

2003

CONSTRUCTIVE & DESTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE

Phase difference
between waves
Distance & time
measurement

VLBI

CMPstacking
earth.leeds.ac.uk/.../
active_tectonics/vlbi.gif

Stein&Wysession,2003

http://comet.nerc.ac.uk/sc
hoolssar_how.html

INSAR

X-ray
diffraction

Michelson
Morley
experiment
(1887)

http://www.eserc.stonybrook.e
du/ProjectJava/Bragg/

RAYS ARE
APPROXIMATIONS
TO WAVES

Stein&Wysession,
2003

GEOTHERMICS
Conservation of
energy (science
vs popular
usage)

Potential

Potential, kinetic,
chemical, heat,
electrical
Chemical

Nuclear

Planets are
heat engines

Most energy
available to
humans &
natural systems
is ultimately
nuclear from sun
or other stars

Steinetal,2007

HEAT & TEMPERATURE

Explain physically (towel)
Heat transfer modes
Use partial derivative
(dont have to call it grad)
Time dependant solutions

Steinetal,2007

Coolinghalfspacesolution

Lavalake

Stein&Wysession,2003

THERMAL EVOLUTION OF LITHOSPHERE

Simple models of
spreading & subduction
Tie to observations
Density anomalies
Plate driving forces
Forsyth&
Uyeda,1975

Stein&Wysession,
2003

THERMAL
CONVECTION
Buoyancy
force
Adiabat
Convection
cell
Solid & fluid
earth
Steinetal,2007

Tietoweather
&climate
change

VISCOSITY
Definew/otensor
Magma&mantle
flow
Stokesproblem
Rayleighnumber

Steinetal,2007

Tietoglacialgeology

Stratovolcano

GPS

Shieldvolcano

Reflectsmagmachemistry;tietohazard

RADIOACTIVITY

How & why it occurs

Why nuclear energy released
Age dating
Radioactive heating of earth

Nucleus

Meteorites
fromearly
solar
system
2

E=mc

Steinetal,2007

SUGGESTIONS
Identify math, physics, chemistry
concepts implicitly or explicitly needed
in course
Assess which students are shaky on
Review - or teach - these at level
suitable for class curriculum &
composition
Seek to improve students
understanding of both underlying
concepts & geophysical application
Develop problems & labs for this goal
Accept that some students will benefit
more than others

You come in
here with a
skull full of
mush and you
leave thinking
like a lawyer.