The course is an introduction to physics of the solid Earth intended for students with substantial background in physics and mathematics including calculus. The course will provide an overview of the structure and evolution of the Earth as a dynamic planet within our solar system. Physical principles will be applied to the following topics: theory of elasticity and elastic wave propagation; modern global seismology as a probe of the Earth's internal structure; earthquakes and the description of seismic sources; a simple but fundamental theory of thermal convection; the distinctive rheological behaviour of the upper mantle and its top layer, controlled by significant changes in the mechanical properties of the material, will then be explored to arrive at a comprehensive description of what forces drive and resist global plate motions.
Honours Pathway OptionStudents taking the HP advanced option will undertake an individual project on a topic of interest from the course syllabus. Such project shall develop in consultation with the course lecturers, and may be in the form of a reading project or a laboratory/numerical experiment accompanied by a final report. The assessment of the project will be agreed upon and undertaken in a manner appropriate to the project itself (e.g. a written report or essay, a short talk etc.). Students taking the HP option may elect to substitute their project mark either with up to two (out of four) individual assignments or with one of the experiments and accompanying report normally undertaken during the course (this amounts to a total of 10-20% of the final grade). The assessment weight towards the exam will remain the same.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Give an overview of the structure and evolution of the Earth as a dynamic planet within our solar system with the underlying principles of geophysical inference and how it is applied to infer the Earth’s internal structure and dynamics;
- Understand the elastic wave equation and Hooke’s law; derive the solutions of the wave equation in an elastic isotropic medium for body and surface waves;
- Understand ray theory and discovery of main boundaries within the Earth; understand how energy is partitioned at boundaries with the derivation of reflection and refraction coefficients and how spherically symmetric models of the Earth’s interior are developed;
- Describe the mechanism of earthquakes and the description of seismic sources using equivalent forces and seismic moment tensor;
- Explain the governing dynamics of the Earth's mantle and lithosphere;
- Derive quantitative estimates of the forces controlling plate motions and their temporal changes;
- Critically assess alternative theories for global planetary evolution in the context of geophysical observables.
Indicative Assessment
- Examination (40) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
- Seismology Homework assignments (10) [LO 1,2,3]
- Seismology Lab assignments x2 (10) [LO 2,3,4]
- Seismology Oral presentation (10) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Geodynamics Homework assessments (15) [LO 5,6]
- Geodynamics project work (15) [LO 5,7]
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Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the semester including:
• Face-to face component which may consist of 3 x 1 hour lectures, 1 x 1 hour tutorial per week and 4 x 3 hour lab sessions throughout the semester.
• Approximately 70 hours of self directed study which will include preparation for lectures and other assessment tasks.
Inherent Requirements
No specific inherent requirements have been identified for this course.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
N/A
Preliminary Reading
- Bolt, B. (2004) Earthquakes, Freeman & Co. (QE534.3 .B65 2004)
- Shearer, P.M. (1999) Introduction to Seismology, Cambridge University Press (QE534.2 .S455 1999) - available online as a pdf
- Tkalcic, H. (2017) The Earth's inner core: revealed by observational seismology, Cambridge University Press, eBook access via Internet. ANU/ANV, ISBN 9781139583954
- Davies, G. F. (1999) Dynamic Earth, Cambridge University Press (QE509.4 .D38 1999)
- Poirier, J.P. (1991) Introduction to the Physics of the Earth's Interior, Cambridge University Press (QE509.P64 1991)
- Stacey, F.D. (1992) Physics of the Earth, 3rd Edn., Brookfield Press (QC806.S65 1992)
- Turcotte, D.L. & Schubert, G. (2002) Geodynamics 2nd Edn, Cambridge University Press, (QE501.T83 2002)
Assumed Knowledge
It is desirable that students have completed PHYS3102, but it is not a course requirement.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
Units | EFTSL |
---|---|
6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
Year | Fee |
---|---|
2025 | $4680 |
- International fee paying students
Year | Fee |
---|---|
2025 | $6720 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7746 | 21 Jul 2025 | 28 Jul 2025 | 31 Aug 2025 | 24 Oct 2025 | In Person | N/A |