Planetary Sciences, Courses Summer 2000

Summer 2000 Course Descriptions
Key to Course Descriptions

Courses listed below are approved UA courses as of Summer 2000. Not all approved courses will be offered during this term. For course offerings/availability during a specific term, see the Schedule of Classes. Each course number below links to the Schedule of Classes.

Planetary Sciences (PTYS) Dept Info - College Info

PTYS 106 Survey of the Solar System (3) I II Interdisciplinary synthesis of planetary and space science; the sun, planets, satellites, interplanetary gas, comets, small bodies, space missions. Designed for nonscientists. 3R, 3L. P, MATH 110. (Identical with ASTR 106, GEOS 106).

PTYS 107 Planet Earth: Evolution of a Habital World (3) I II History of the Earth as a planet including the origin of the solar system; formation of life; comparative evolution of Earth, Mars, Venus and Titan; global climate change past and present. Designed for nonscientists. P, MATH 116 recommended, not required.

PTYS 109L Exploration and Discovery in Planetary Science (1) I II Hands-on laboratory experiments with tools and procedures used to reconstruct the origin and evolution of the Solar System. Activities include observation of planets, image processing, and studies of radioactivity, light, and gravity. Can be taken with PTYS 106 or PTYS 107. P, or CR, can be taken with PTYS 106 or PTYS 107. (Identical with ASTR 109L, GEOS 109L).

PTYS 112H Undergraduate Research in Planetary Science (4) II Student research using spacecraft or ground-based telescopic data to investigate various topics of current interest in planetary science. P, open to honors students only.

PTYS 191 Preceptorship (1-5)

PTYS 191H Honors Preceptorship (1-5)

PTYS 195A Planetary Sciences (1) I II

PTYS 206 Our Golden Age of Planetary Exploration (3) I II We will review current understanding of the contents of our Solar System and emphasize the processes that unite all of the planets and smaller bodies, such as tectonics, weathering, cratering, differentiation, and the evolution of oceans and atmospheres. The course will build on this knowledge to understand humankind's motivation to explore beyond our Solar System, especially to search for planets around distant stars and to look or listen for evidence of life elsewhere in the Universe. P, two courses from Tier One, Natural Sciences (NATS 101, 102, 104). (Identical with ASTR 206). Approved as Tier Two - Natural Sciences.

PTYS 291 Preceptorship (1-5)

PTYS 291H Honors Preceptorship (1-5)

PTYS 299 Independent Study (1-3) [Rpt./] I II

PTYS 299H Honors Independent Study (1-5) [Rpt./]

PTYS 391 Preceptorship (1-6) I II

PTYS 391H Honors Preceptorship (3) I II

PTYS 403 Physics of the Solar System (3) II Survey of planetary physics, planetary motions, planetary interiors, geophysics, planetary atmospheres, asteroids, comets, origin of the solar system. (Identical with ASTR 403, GEOS 403). May be convened with PTYS 503.

PTYS 407 Chemistry of the Solar System (3) I Abundance, origin, distribution, and chemical behavior of the chemical elements in the Solar System. Emphasis on applications of chemical equilibrium, photochemistry, and mineral phase equilibrium theory. P, PHYS 132, CHEM 104B, MATH 129 or their equivalents. (Identical with CHEM 407). May be convened with PTYS 507.

PTYS 411 Geology of the Solar System (4) [Rpt./ 8 units] I II Geologic processes and landforms on satellites and the terrestrial planets, their modification under various planetary environments, and methods of analysis. 3R, 3L. P, GEOS 101 or equivalent, and MATH 125B or equivalent. (Identical with GEOS 411). May be convened with PTYS 511.

PTYS 418 Modern Astronomical Instrumentation and Techniques (3) I (Identical with ASTR 418, which is home). May be convened with PTYS 518.

PTYS 419 Physics of the Earth (3) II (Identical with GEOS 419, which is home). May be convened with PTYS 519.

PTYS 430 The Chemical Evolution of Earth (3) I (Identical with GEOS 430, which is home). May be convened with PTYS 530.

PTYS 441A Dynamic Meteorology (3) I (Identical with ATMO 441A, which is home). May be convened with PTYS 541A.

PTYS 441B Dynamic Meteorology (3) II (Identical with ATMO 441B, which is home). May be convened with PTYS 541B.

PTYS 449 Image Processing for Scientific Discovery (3) II Image processing as a tool for exploration, discovery and analysis in a wide range of subjects. Suitable for both science and non-science majors, as well as pre-service and in-service mathematics and technology teachers. May be convened with PTYS 549.

PTYS 491 Preceptorship (1-6) I II

PTYS 491H Honors Preceptorship (3) I II

PTYS 498 Senior Capstone (1-3) I II

PTYS 499 Independent Study (1-5) [Rpt./]

PTYS 499H Honors Independent Study (1-5) [Rpt./]

PTYS 503 Physics of the Solar System (3) II For a description of course topics see PTYS 403. Graduate-level requirements include an in-depth research paper on a selected topic and an oral class presentation. (Identical with GEOS 503, ASTR 503). May be convened with PTYS 403.

PTYS 505A Principles of Planetary Physics (3) I II Introductory physics of planetary and interplanetary fluids, plasmas, and solid bodies. Thermodynamics, kinetic theory, fluid dynamics, transport theory, rotational and tidal response theory and orbital mechanics, applied to solar system objects. P, classical and quantum mechanics at the level of PHYS 151 and PHYS 242.

PTYS 505B Principles of Planetary Physics (3) I II Introductory physics of planetary and interplanetary fluids, plasmas, and solid bodies. Thermodynamics, kinetic theory, fluid dynamics, transport theory, rotational and tidal response theory and orbital mechanics, applied to solar system objects. P, classical and quantum mechanics at the level of PHYS 151 and PHYS 242.

PTYS 507 Chemistry of the Solar System (3) I For a description of course topics see PTYS 407. Graduate-level requirements include an original research paper or critical review. May be convened with PTYS 407.

PTYS 510 Principles of Cosmochemistry (3) I Bulk composition of the solar system. Chemical thermodynamics, kinetics, phase equilibria. Application to the differentiation of rocky solar system bodies into metallic cores, silicate mantles, and crusts, oceans and atmospheres. (Identical with GEOS 510).

PTYS 511 Geology of the Solar System (4) [Rpt./ 8 units] I II For a description of course topics see PTYS 411. Graduate-level requirements include an advanced research paper covering some topic in planetary geology with an extensive literature search and evaluation. (Identical with GEOS 511). May be convened with PTYS 411.

PTYS 512 Planetary Global Tectonics (3) I II Application of the physics of solid-state deformation to global tectonics of the terrestrial planets and icy moons of the solar system. Modes of topographic support, isostacy and implications for gravity/topography ratios on one-plate planets. Theory of floating elastic plates as an approximation to the lithosphere. Use of seismic data to determine the interior structure and composition and modes of heat conduction in planets.

PTYS 517 Atmospheres and Remote Sensing (3) I II Structure, composition, and evolution of atmospheres; atomic and molecular spectroscopy; radiative transfer and spectral line formatting.

PTYS 518 Modern Astronomical Instrumentation and Techniques (3) I (Identical with ASTR 518, which is home). May be convened with PTYS 418.

PTYS 519 Physics of the Earth (3) II (Identical with GEOS 519, which is home). May be convened with PTYS 419.

PTYS 520 Meteorites (3) II Classification; chemical, mineralogical and isotopic composition; cosmic abundances; ages; interaction with solar and cosmic radiation; relation to comets and asteroids. (Identical with GEOS 520).

PTYS 530 The Chemical Evolution of Earth (3) I (Identical with GEOS 530, which is home). May be convened with PTYS 430.

PTYS 541A Dynamic Meteorology (3) I (Identical with ATMO 541A, which is home). May be convened with PTYS 441A.

PTYS 541B Dynamic Meteorology (3) II (Identical with ATMO 541B, which is home). May be convened with PTYS 441B.

PTYS 544 Physics of High Atmospheres (3) II Physical properties of upper atmospheres, including gaseous composition, temperature and density, ozonosphere, and ionospheres, with emphasis on chemical transformations and eddy transport. (Identical with ATMO 544).

PTYS 545 Stellar Atmosphere (3) I (Identical with ASTR 545, which is home).

PTYS 549 Image Processing for Scientific Discovery (3) II For a description of course topics see PTYS 449. Graduate-level students are required to present advanced-level documentation. May be convened with PTYS 449.

PTYS 553 Solar System Dynamics (3) II Dynamical processes affecting the orbital evolution of planets, asteroids, and satellites, and the rotational evolution of solid bodies. Emphasizes modern nonlinear dynamics and chaos. (Identical with ASTR 553).

PTYS 554 Evolution of Planetary Surfaces (3) II The geologic processes and evolution of terrestrial planet and satellite surfaces including the Galilean and Saturnian and Uranian satellites. Course includes one or two field trips to Meteor Crater or other locales. (Identical with GEOS 554).

PTYS 555 Remote Sensing of Planetary Surfaces (3) II Exploration of planetary surfaces, including that of the Earth, with remote sensing. Emphasis on compositional determination using visible and infrared methods. Basic principles, image and spectroscopic analysis techniques, and case studies in planetary remote sensing. (Identical with ASTR 555, GEOS 555).

PTYS 556 Electrodynamics of Conducting Fluids and Plasmas (3) II Plasma physics and magnetohydrodynamics. Introduction; discussion of the sun, solar wind, magneto-sphere, cosmic rays, interstellar gas, galaxies, dynamos, pulsars. (Identical with ASTR 556, PHYS 556).

PTYS 565 The Outer Solar System (3) I Fundamental aspects of outer system studies presented at the beginning graduate level: solar system formation and solar nebula chemistry; outer planet atmospheres; outer planet interiors, satellite surface processes; ring phenomenology and physics; and Triton, Pluto/Charon, and Kuiper belt.

PTYS 567 Inverse Problems in Geophysics (3) I II P, experience with linear algebra and computer programming recommended. (Identical with GEOS 567, which is home).

PTYS 571 Terrestrial Planets (3) I Geophysical and geochemical techniques used to deduce composition and evolution of terrestrial planets. Topics include the Earth, Moon, Mars, Venus, and meteorites. (Identical with GEOS 571).

PTYS 582 High Energy Astrophysics (3) II (Identical with ASTR 582, which is home).

PTYS 583 Physical Geochemistry (3) I II P, MATH 125; MATH 129 or MATH 124. (Identical with GEOS 583, which is home).

PTYS 587 Nuclear Astrophysics (3) I (Identical with ASTR 587, which is home).

PTYS 589 Topics in Theoretical Astrophysics (3) [Rpt./ 1] I (Identical with PHYS 589, which is home).

PTYS 591 Preceptorship (1-5) [Rpt./]

PTYS 594A Planetary Geology Field Studies (1) [Rpt./ 3] I II

PTYS 596A The Origin of Life in the Solar System (3) I II

PTYS 599 Independent Study (1-5) [Rpt./]

PTYS 691 Preceptorship (1-5) [Rpt./]

PTYS 699 Independent Study (1-5) [Rpt./]

PTYS 791 Preceptorship (1-5)

PTYS 900 Research (1-8) [Rpt./]

PTYS 909 Master's Report (3-6) [Rpt./]

PTYS 910 Thesis (2-4) [Rpt./]

PTYS 920 Dissertation (1-9) [Rpt./]

PTYS 930 Supplementary Registration (1-9) [Rpt./]

Page last updated: May 20, 2013