Classroom, Lab and Field Exercises in Geophysics
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Subject: Geophysics
Results 1 - 20 of 460 matches
SIGkit (Software for Introductory Geophysics toolkit) for modelling and visualization of data part of Workshop 07: Activities
Charly Bank, University of Toronto
Predicting what geophysical data may look like and making basic inferences from data are critical learning outcomes of introductory geophysics courses whether they happen in a classroom or in a field setting. This ...
Earthquake Epicenter Location Exercise using Google Earth and OneNote part of Workshop 07: Activities
Jeffrey Nunn, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Students are provided with data from 4 seismograms which are used to plot the epicenter of an earthquake using OneNote to pick the P-S wave arrival gap and Google Earth to plot the circles which intersect at the ...
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SeisMac Seismogram Modeling part of Workshop 07: Activities
Michael Wysession, Washington University in St Louis
Use the freely-downloaded "SeisMac" program on a Mac laptop to demonstrated the differences between P, S, Rayleigh and Love waves. SeisMac is a free program that instantly turns a Mac laptop into a ...
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Scorpions as Seismologists part of Workshop 07: Activities
Laura Wetzel, Eckerd College
Students investigate how seismologists and scorpions use wave travel times to locate sources of movement. The primary strength of this exercise is that it links geophysics and biology to enhance interest for ...
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Geophysics of the News part of Workshop 07: Activities
Laurie Brown, University of Massachusetts-Amherst
The is a project to present. both orally and written, information on the Plate Tectonics setting of a geographic region in the news. Emphasis is on the geophysical studies/results from the region, but plate ...
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Earthquake! A Term Paper and Presentation Assignment part of Workshop 07: Activities
Laura Wetzel, Eckerd College
In this writing and oral presentaion assignment, students are challenged to assess a building site for a fictitious organization, the Society for Earthquake Enthusiasts. Each student must choose a historically ...
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Concept puzzles about geophysical methods part of Workshop 07: Activities
Sarah Titus, Carleton College
These exercises can be used in class to insure students have a firm grasp on the concepts behind a variety of geophysical techniques and can take anywhere between 10-45 minutes.
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Interpretation of plate boundaries from topography, bathymetry, volcanoes, and earthquake focal depths using Google Earth and OneNote part of Workshop 07: Activities
Jeffrey Nunn, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Students are provided with data on topography, bathymetry, locations of earthquakes and volcanoes and earthquake focal depths in Google Earth. They are asked to plot a cross-section of topography/bathymetry and ...
Seismic refraction exercise for a hydrogeology course part of Workshop 07: Activities
Devin Castendyk, SUNY Oneonta
This problem has students analyze seismic refraction data to determine the depth to the water table and stratigraphy. Simple, useful, and gratifying.
Density structure of the earth from mass and moment of inertia part of Workshop 07: Activities
Donald Forsyth, Brown University
Using mass and moment of inertia as constraints, students construct density models of the whole earth. This activity uses concepts from physics, multi-dimensional calculus, and linear algebra, and also reinforces ...
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Well Logs part of Workshop 07: Activities
Kevin Brewer, Olivet Nazarene University
This lab is an exercise focused on wells and well logs. In it, the student will examine four well logs, correlate major unit boundaries, and construct three figures: a cross-section diagram, a structure map, and an ...
Find the UST with GPR part of Workshop 07: Activities
William Montgomery, New Jersey City University
Field-based activity that uses GPR to find an underground storage tank (UST). Optionally, data provided with the activity enables lab or class use as well. Activity can be enhanced with use of GPS unit that takes ...
Earth Motion Monitor part of Workshop 07: Activities
Charles Ammon, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
An activity based around the display near real-time seismograms in the classroom.
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Driving forces of plate tectonics and the importance of inertia part of Workshop 07: Activities
Donald Forsyth, Brown University
Simple in class calculations showing that inertia or momentum is completely unimportant in considering the driving forces of plate tectonics
Introduction to Plate Tectonics part of Workshop 07: Activities
Elizabeth Cochran, University of California-Riverside
Uses maps created in Google Earth to explore concepts of plate tectonics including locations of plate boundaries, age of the sea floor, and distribution of earthquakes
Learning how to use resistivity soundings for interpretation of subsurface stratigraphy part of Workshop 07: Activities
Remke Van Dam, Michigan State University
This activity uses a combination of field measurements, lab experiments and simple modeling to develop an understanding of electrical resistivity methods as a tool in geology and hydrology. Students work in groups ...
Theoretical estimation of cooling times part of Workshop 07: Activities
Steve Dickman, Binghamton University
Development of equations governing conduction of heat, culminating in a scaling analysis to easily estimate order-of-magnitude time for magma body to cool. Simple ultimate formulas and wide-ranging geoscience ...
Using Geophysical Field Studies as the Focus for Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in an Introductory Geophysics Course part of Workshop 07: Activities
Paul Kelso, Lake Superior State University
Using field geophysics projects as the focus of problem based learning activities in an introductory geophysics course provides students with the opportunity to work and think as geophysicists. Students are ...
Finding the Moho part of Workshop 07: Activities
Stephen Boss, University of Arkansas
This lab activity uses the Rapid Earthquake Viewer (on on-line seismogram viewer),spreadsheet software, and students' knowledge of seismic refraction principles to recapitulate Mohorovicic's classic ...
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Geophysics in the community part of Workshop 07: Activities
Jackie Caplan-Auerbach, Western Washington University
In this activity students develop independent or small group research projects in collaboration with local community organizations, or with the goal of investigating a topic relevant to the greater community. This ...

