MPhys Physics with Astrophysics

Year of entry: 2024

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Course unit details:
Planetary Evolution

Course unit fact file
Unit code	EART35202
Credit rating	10
Unit level	Level 6
Teaching period(s)	Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit?	No

Overview

In this course unit students will learn about the evolution of the terrestrial planets and icy body structures. Content varies somewhat from year to year to reflect current areas of exciting research, but in outline will cover these areas.

Planetary scale processes including origins of planetary cores, mantles and crusts (modified by volcanism and magmatism, impact cratering, and erosion). We will see how these processes allow us to compare and contrast planetary scale evolution.

We will discuss the relationships between terrestrial planetary atmospheres and climate change, especially the contrasting fates of water on Mars and Venus, and the reasons their climates have differed from that of the Earth. This will lead to a discussion of the features of the Earth that lead to its being able to support us, and how they arose (i.e., planetary habitability).

There is an emphasis in the course on developing your own understanding, applying it in new contexts, and supporting your opinions with evidence. Students are encouraged to read around the subject, following their interests and starting from some recommended papers on the blackboard site.

Pre/co-requisites

Pre-requisite units

Earth and Planetary Sciences (Planetary Pathway) BSc or MSci course

Physics BSc or MSci course

Co-requisite units

None

Aims

In this unit you will learn about the processes that have shaped the environments of the rocky and icy planetary bodies in our Solar System. You will consider whether the Earth is unique in our Solar System in providing a habitable environment.

Learning outcomes

On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:		Developed	Assessed
ILO 1	Provide an up-to-date account of the properties of the rocky and icy planetary bodies in our Solar System.	x	x
ILO 2	Describe and comment on current theories that account for the properties of these planetary bodies.	x	x
ILO 3	Discuss the merits of arguments, assumptions and source data(s) relevant to the understanding the formation and evolution of the Solar System’s rocky and icy planetary bodies.	x	x
ILO 4	Explain areas of uncertainty in our understanding of the Solar System.	x	x
ILO 5	Support their opinions with evidence from scholarly reviews and primary sources.	x	x

Syllabus

Processes that set the compositions of planetary bodies.
Comparisons among planetary bodies in the solar system between the solar system and exoplanetary systems.
Impact cratering and its use for surface chronology.
The contrasting histories of planetary bodies including the Moon, Mercury, Mars, Venus, the Galilean satellites and Titan.
Processes that made the Earth a habitable environment.

Teaching and learning methods

20 x 1 hour meetings.

Blackboard site with course material, links to recommendations for further reading, notes, and a discussion board.

Assessment methods

Method	Weight
Report	100%

Feedback methods

Assessment type

% Weighting within unit

Hand out and hand in dates

Length

How, when and what feedback is provided

ILO tested

Report (individual)

Tbd (about half way through)

Tbd

Via turnitin individually, and via global report/comments

ILOs 1-5

Report (individual)

Tbd(after last class)

Tbd