SCI 3700 - Physical Geology

3 lecture hours 0 lab hours 3 credits

Course Description
During the first six weeks we will study rocks, mineralogy, and the rock cycle. The physical characteristics of rocks, sediment and soil will be examined, and methods for determining the ages of rocks will be studied. During weeks seven through nine we will study rivers, streams, groundwater, glaciers, and deserts. The landscape of Wisconsin includes glacial landforms and wind-borne loess from western deserts. Weeks ten through fourteen will be concerned with plate tectonics and geologic structures. The underlying bedrock of Wisconsin contains evidence of past collisions and continental rifts. Week fifteen will include a discussion of resources and climate change, which will be covered in more detail in another course.
Prereq: PHY 1110 (quarter system prereq: PH 2011)
Note: Students choose between Think Critically or Exhibit Curiosity.
This course meets the following Raider Core CLO Requirement: Think Critically, Exhibit Curiosity

Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Identify different types of plate boundaries
Distinguish among silicates, carbonates, oxides and other types of minerals
Distinguish among igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks and their various subtypes
Identify the different types of igneous activity and the rocks they produce
Calculate the age of an igneous rock by using radiometric dating
Determine the relative ages of sedimentary rock layers
Use Darcy’s equation to describe the rate and direction of groundwater movement
Identify the various types of glacial landforms, especially in Wisconsin
Use the physical characteristics of seismic waves to map the Earth’s interior
Relate the concepts that we have studied to climate change and distribution of resources

Prerequisites by Topic

Understand Newton’s laws
Be able to handle equations with logarithms, exponentials and trigonometric functions

Course Topics

Plate tectonics
Classification of minerals
Classification of igneous rocks
Weathering and soil
Classification of sedimentary rocks
Metamorphism
Geologic time and how it is measured
Erosion
Flowing water
Groundwater
Glaciers and ice ages
Deserts and wind action
Waves, beaches and coasts
Seismic waves and seismic activity
Earth’s interior
The sea floor
The continental crust
Climate change
Resources
Earth’s companions

Coordinator
Dr. Steven P. Mayer

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SCI 3700 - Physical Geology