Catalog Description: Earth forms, structures, materials and processes which have formed them. An introduction to minerals, rocks and topographic maps. Optional field trips.
Lecture Hrs = 3, Lab Hrs = 3
Semester Credit Hours: 4 Lecture Hours per Week: Lab Hours per Week: Contact Hours per Semester: 96 State Approval Code: 4006015100
Perspectives (Those marked with a √ reflect the state-mandated perspectives
taught in this course.)
Establish broad and multiple perspectives
on the individual in relationship to the larger society and world in which
he/she lives, and to understand the responsibilities of living in a culturally
and ethnically diversified world.
Stimulate a capacity to discuss and
reflect upon individual, political, economic, and social aspects of life in
order to understand ways in which to be a responsible member of society.
Recognize the importance
of maintaining health and wellness.
Develop a capacity to use knowledge
of how technology and science affect their lives.
Develop personal values for ethical
behavior.
Develop the ability to make
aesthetic judgments.
Use logical reasoning in problem solving.
Integrate knowledge and understand
the interrelationships of the scholarly disciplines.
Exemplary Objectives (Those marked with a √ reflect state-mandated exemplary
objectives taught in this course.)
Natural Sciences: The objective of the study of
a natural sciences component of a core curriculum is to enable the student
to understand, construct, and evaluate relationships in the natural sciences,
and to enable the student to understand the bases for building and testing
theories.
To understand and apply method and appropriate technology to the study
of natural sciences.
To recognize scientific and quantitative methods and the differences
between these approaches and other methods of inquiry and to communicate
findings, analyses, and interpretation both orally and in writing.
To identify and recognize the differences among competing scientific
theories.
To demonstrate knowledge of the major issues and problems facing modern
science, including issues that touch upon ethics, values and public
policies.
To demonstrate knowledge of the interdependence of science and technology
and their influence on, and contribution to, modern culture.
Instructional Goals and Purposes:
Lee College's instructional goals include 1) creating an academic atmosphere
in which students may develop their intellects and skills and 2) providing
courses so students may receive a certificate/an associate degree or transfer
to a senior institution that offers baccalaureate degrees.
General Course Objectives:
Successful completion of this course will promote the general student learning
outcomes listed below. The student will be able
To apply the geological principles to explain various observed
natural phenomena that occur on the earth's surface as well as in the interior
of the earth.
To develop their observation skills to be able to recognize
the various geological features and materials the earth is constructed from.
To develop the skills of inquiry by use of the scientific
method to experience, evaluate, and synthesize data as applied to various
geological problems.
Specific Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able
To identify common rocks and minerals.
To describe the origin of the three rock types.
To identity the different types of volcanoes, explain the processes
that form them, and the hazards they present.
To describe the theory of Plate Tectonics and relate this theory
to geologic process and structures.
To describe the properties of earthquakes and their causes.
To explain the structure of the Earth's Interior.
To describe the different types of geologic structures and how
they are formed.
To describe the basic features of the Ocean Basins and their
origins.
Course Content:
Students will be required to do the following:
Introducing the Earth
Recognize the description and practical applications of physical and
historical geology.
Relate the field of geology to other sciences.
Conclude why the concept of time is so difficult in interpreting the
geosciences.
Contrast the use of modeling and use of field studies in geology.
Recall why a laboratory scientist strives to minimize the number of
variables in a experiment.
Conclude why a geologist has greater difficulty minimizing the number
of variables than a laboratory scientist.
Recognize the meaning of the scientific method and its components.
Contrast the Principle of Uniformitarianism with the Principle of Catastrophism.
Recognize a description of the Theory of Plate Tectonics.
Recognize the layers of the earth and how they formed.
Recognize the origin and components of the early atmosphere.
Conclude the effect of changing forces on the face of the earth.
Relate how the rock record reveals the presence of life on earth.
Explain how the earth is a natural system tending toward a dynamic
equilibrium.
Apply the concept that the earth is a closed system relative to resource
use and pollution.
Minerals
Describe how a mineral is defined, and explain the factors that affect
the properties of a mineral.
Distinguish between a crystalline and a non-crystalline substance.
List and explain five of physical properties of minerals.
List and describe the chemical grouping of minerals.
List and describe the silicates.
Describe the types of rocks and their relationship to each other in
the Rock Cycle.
Igneous Rocks and Processes
Explain the origin of Magmas, the effect of pressure, and the presence
of volitiles on the melting point of solid materials.
List and explain the sources of heat to melt rock.
Describe the crystallization of magmas and relate this to Bowen's reaction
series.
Explain how magmas can be modified.
Describe the different textures of igneous rocks and how they are formed.
Explain how igneous rocks are classified and list examples.
Describe the different forms of intrusive bodies.
Volcanoes
Describe the nature of fissure eruptions, and give an example.
Explain the different types of volcanoes and give examples.
Describe the relationship of magma viscosity and the violence of volcanic
eruptions.
Describe two methods used to control hazardous lava flows.
List and describe two examples of the climate changes produced by volcanoes.
Describe the three categories of volcanoes based on their activity.
List several examples of present and future volcanic hazards of the
United States.
Identify several thermal features that are characteristic of volcanic
areas.
Sediment and Sedimentary Rocks
Identify the two ways in which sediments are classified.
Explain how clastic sediments are subdivided and named.
Identify different types of clastic sedimentary rocks.
Explain how chemical sediments are named.
Identify 4 different types of chemical sedimentary rocks.
Compare the different clastic and chemical sedimentary environments.
Explain the process of lithification of sedimentary rock.
Explain how bedding structures and surface features of sedimentary
rock are useful in
identifying the setting in which the sediments were deposited.
Explain how sediments are modified as they are transported farther
away from the source rock.
Interpret whether an ocean is transgressing or regressing when given
a description or a strata sequence drawing.
Explain how the paleogeography of sedimentary strata can be determined
by
paleocurrents and the composition of clastic sediments.
Describe how the paleoclimate can be deduced from sediment character.
Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks
Describe the two most common causes of metamorphism.
List and explain the three factors that affect metamorphism.
Explain two sources of heat that cause metamorphism.
Compare and contrast confining pressure and directed stress.
Describe two ways in which the presence of fluids affects metamorphism.
Explain the difference between foliated and nonfoliated rocks.
Explain how schistosity, gnessic texture, and slaty cleavage are produced.
Classify metamorphic rocks as either foliated or nonfoliated.
Contrast Regional and Contact metamorphism.
Relate increasing temperature or depth to the metamorphic faces produced.
Associate the presence of certain index minerals with metamorphic grade.
Plate Tectonics
Describe the evidence of support for Alfred Wegener's continental drift
theory.
Describe how plates move in terms of distance, direction and driving
force.
Explain how plate boundaries are identified.
Describe seafloor spreading and its relationship to tectonic plates.
Relate plate tectonics to magnetic anomalies.
Describe the age of rocks to their relative distance from spreading
centers.
Describe the term "polar-wander curve".
Describe Pangaea.
Contrast what happens during continent-continent plate convergence
with continent ocean plate convergence.
Explain why there is an absence of ancient seafloor rocks.
Compare and contrast several driving force theories for plate motion.
Earthquakes, Seismic Waves, and the Earth's Interior
Describe elastic and plastic behavior in rocks.
Explain the term "creep".
Describe how seismic wave speeds are used to locate earthquakes.
Describe the two scales used to measure intensity and magnitude of
an earthquake.
Explain how fluid injection might be used to minimize major earthquake
along locked faults.
Explain how precursor phenomena relate to earthquake prediction.
Explain why the central U.S. is considered a high earthquake risk area.
Describe how geoscientist obtain deep samples of the earth's interior.
Explain the behavior of seismic waves as they pass through different
materials.
Describe how the Mohorovicic Discontinuity and Gutenberg Discontinuity
is identified.
Explain how crustal thickness is determined by seismic waves.
Explain how seismic wave studies determined the presence of the asthenosphere.
Describe the nature of rocks in the asthenosphere.
Explain the S-wave shadow zone.
Explain why geoscientist describe the inner core as solid, and how
the interior of the earth explains earth's magnetic field.
The Continental Crust
Explain how the type of structure formed depends on the condition of
the rock involved and the area the rock occupies.
Explain the causes of folds and be able to name and describe the parts
of a fold.
Name and describe the two main types of folds.
Name describe the different varieties of folds.
Explain what causes folds.
Describe the difference in joints and faults.
Describe how the orientation of structural features is determined.
Name and explain the different types of faults.
Define the term "mountain" and describe the various ways that mountains
are formed.
Define the terms orogenesis, shield and craton and explain how they
are related.
Ocean Basins
List and explain the principal topographic features of a passive continental
margin.
Describe the process of ocean basin creation that leads to formation
of a passive margin.
Explain where and how trenches form.
Describe a spreading ridge.
Describe the abyssal plains.
Explain the formation of the submarine canyons of the continental slopes.
Distinguish between a seamount and a guyot.
Streams
Briefly summarize the principal processes and reservoirs of the hydrologic
cycle.
Define what is a stream and a drainage basin.
Explain what determines the order of a stream?
Describe the kind of geologic situation in which you might expect each
the following to develop: (a) rectangular drainage, (b) radial drainage.
Explain what a stream's discharge is and how it is related to stream
capacity and load.
Briefly describe the development and migration of meanders.
Explain the circumstances that produce stream piracy.
Explain what a braided stream is, and how braiding develops.
Sketch the equilibrium longitudinal profile of a graded stream, indicating
base level.
Outline briefly how flood hazards are affected by each of the following:
(a) intensity of precipitation, (b) soil type, (c) presence of vegetation,
(d) construction that adds extensive impermeable cover.
Explain what a flood-frequency curve is.
Cite and briefly explain three strategies for reducing flood hazards,
noting the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Groundwater and Water Resources
Distinguish groundwater from subsurface water.
Define and compare the properties of porosity and permeability.
Distinguish between an aquifer and a confined aquifer. is
Explain the nature of artesian conditions and how they arise.
Define water table, and explain how it is related to a potentiometric
surface.
Define cone of depression, and explain how it develops...
Explain karst topography, and explain the conditions necessary for
it to develop.
Expalin how roundwater withdrawal that exceeds recharge may lead to
surface subsidence.
Define saltwater intrusion, and explain under what circumstances it
occurs.
Describe how urbanization might reduce recharge of a confined aquifer.
Describe one strategy for increasing recharge to an aquifer.
Define hard water.
Cite and explain any two ways in which groundwater may become polluted.
Explain why groundwater is frequently preferable to surface water as
a source of water supply.
Explain why industry is the principal water user, and agriculture is
the major water consumer.
Landslides and Mass Wasting
Explain the concept of angle of repose and its relationship to slope
stability.
Briefly describe the role of fluid in mass movements.
Name two possible triggers for sudden slope failure.
Explain what quick clay is.
Distinguish between a fall and a slide and between a slide and a flow.
Name four kinds of flow, noting the differences among them.
Rank the following in terms of velocity, from slowest to fastest: soil
slump, creep, debris avalanche.
Describe any four ways in which human activities can destabilize slopes.
Suggest one possible approach to stabilizing (a) a steep road cut in
severely weathered granite; (b) a sandy soil slope; (c) a shallow
bun unstable slope in a thinly bedded shale, where the bedding dips parallel
to the slope.
Ice, Wind, and Climate
Explain what proportion of the earth's fresh water is currently found
as ice, and describe how this water cycles through a glacier.
Describe three conditions that encourage glacier formation.
Distinguish between continental and alpine glaciers.
Define rock flour, and explain how it is produced.
Describe the origin of (a) hanging valleys and (b) striations.
Explain how glacial till differs, in terms of sorting, from many water-laid
sediments.
Define moraine, and distinguish among the following: ground moraine,
terminal moraine, medial moraine.
Explain how outwash deposits originate.
Describe the annual depositional cycle of a glacial lake that gives
rise to varves.
Cite and briefly summarize any three proposed causes of ice ages.
Explain the greenhouse effect, and explain why it is a subject of increasing
concern in modern times.
Explain the principal cause of wind, and describe three factors that
Influence the direction of wind flow.
Compare and contrast the processes of sediment transport by streams
and by wind, and the sizes of the materials moved.
Describe the nature of wind abrasion and the formation of ventifacts.
Explain deflation, and how is it involved in the formation of desert
pavement.
Summarize the process of dune formation and migration.
Explain how barchan and parabolic dunes differ, and explain why.
Define is loess, and name three kinds of material from which loess
deposits may be derived.
Define desert, and explain if all deserts are found in how climates.
Describe how a mountain range can cast a rain shadow.
Methods of Instruction/Course Format/Delivery:
Faculty may choose from but are not limited to the following methods of instruction: lecture,
discussion, Internet, video, television, demonstrations, field trips, collaboration,
readings.
Assessment:
Faculty may assign both in- and out-of-class activities to evaluate students'
knowledge and abilities. Faculty may choose from the following methods:
Attendance
Book reviews
Class preparedness and participation
Collaborative learning projects
Compositions
Exams/tests/quizzes
Homework
Internet
Journals
Library assignments
Readings
Research papers
Scientific observations
Student-teacher conferences
Written assignments
Course Grade:
Students' final grades are determined by the following grading scheme:
MATH SCIENCE & EDUCATION » PHYSICAL SCIENCE » GEOLOGY » Degrees/Certificates | Courses