PX1127: Planet Earth
| School | Cardiff School of Physics & Astronomy |
| Department Code | PHYSX |
| Module Code | PX1127 |
| External Subject Code | 100414 |
| Number of Credits | 10 |
| Level | L4 |
| Language of Delivery | English |
| Module Leader | DR Paul Roche |
| Semester | Autumn Semester |
| Academic Year | 2017/8 |
Outline Description of Module
- To describe the physical properties of the Earth’s interior, surface and atmosphere.
- To interpret these properties in terms of physical theory and identify those which have been crucial for the evolution of advanced life on Earth and its continuation.
- To introduce the various observational and exploration methods used in exploring planets and moons in our own and other solar systems and to compare their properties with the Earth.
- To introduce the basics of interplanetary travel.
On completion of the module a student should be able to
- Use the principle of hydrostatic equilibrium to model the internal structures and shapes of planets.
- Describe the properties of planetary systems in terms of basic physical concepts, such as tidal forces.
- Demonstrate their understanding of planetary systems by answering both essay-style questions and solving unseen numerical problems under examination conditions.
- Discuss the relation between the physical processes involved in the formation of the Earth and the evolution of complex life, and the threats to its continual existence.
- Explain the principles behind exo-planet detention methods and the advantages and disadvantages of different methods.
- Gain experience in researching a topic and presenting it, as part of a team.
How the module will be delivered
Lectures and marked exercises.
Skills that will be practised and developed
Problem solving. Investigative skills. Mathematics. Analytical skills. Presentation and group work.
How the module will be assessed
Examinations and coursework.
Assessment Breakdown
| Type | % | Title | Duration(hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam - Autumn Semester | 80 | Planet Earth | 2 |
| Written Assessment | 20 | Planet Earth | N/A |
Syllabus content
Earth’s Structure and Surface: Effective temperature and greenhouse effect. Internal and external sources of energy. Hydrostatic equilibrium. Plane-parallel atmosphere. Magnetic fields. Tides and tidal forces.
The Solar System: Structure, age and composition of objects in the Solar System. A basic model for the formation of the Solar System. Kepler’s laws of planetary motion. Elliptical orbits. Applications to planets, moons and comets. Existence of Lagrange points. Space travel; transfer orbits. Roche limit. Ring systems. Comparative planetology. Terrestrial planets and gas giants and their moons. The structures of planets from gravity measurements.
Comets and Asteroids: The properties of comets. The Oort cloud. The Kuiper belt. Plutinos. Evidence for impacts and the extinction of the dinosaurs. Near-Earth objects.
Extra-solar Planets: Detection methods. Properties of exoplanets. The habitable zone. Protoplanetary systems and theories of planet formation. The Drake equation.
Global warming and geoengineering: Current theories of global warming, physical evidence, long and short wave geoengineering options and their potential impact on radiative forcing.
Background Reading and Resource List
Earth: Evolution of a Habitable World, J I Lunine (Cambridge University Press).
Planets and Planetary Systems, S A Eales (Wiley-Blackwell).
An Introduction to our Dynamic Planet, N Rogers (Ed.) (Cambridge University Press).
Rare Earth: Why complex life is uncommon in the Universe. Ward and Brownlee (Copernicus Press).
Astronomy, Fraknoi et al. Free to download from https://openstax.org/details/astronomy