2023 Faculty Courses School of Science Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Taishi Nakamoto
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Tue (石川台2号館Ishikawadai Bldg. 2 318) / 7-8 Fri (石川台2号館Ishikawadai Bldg. 2 318)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- EPS.A202
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2023
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 8, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
To understand the basics of planetary sciences: structure and properties of our Solar System, stars, and planets, as well as the formation and evolution of planetary systems. Also, some relations with other classes provided in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences are introduced.
Course description and aims
To understand basics of planetary sciences.
Keywords
Planetary Science, Astronomy, Astrophysics
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lectures.
Contents and the order of contents listed in the plan may change due to the progress of the class.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction: What are planets? | To understand planets. |
| Class 2 | Motion of Planets (1): Two-Body Problem | To understand two-body problem. |
| Class 3 | Motion of Planets (2): Kepler Motion and Multi-Body System | To understand Kepler motion and multi-body system. |
| Class 4 | Internal Structure of Objects (1): Hydrostatic Equilibrium | To think about the internal structure of astronomical objects, we understand the hydrostatic equilibrium. |
| Class 5 | Internal Structure of Objects (2): Sun and Solid Planets | We think of the internal structure of the Sun and solid planets. |
| Class 6 | Internal Structure of Objects (3): Stability of the Sun | We think about the stability of the Sun and the origin of elements by nucleosynthesis. |
| Class 7 | Age of Solar System | To understand the radiometric dating and the age of our solar system. |
| Class 8 | Solar System Small Bodies (1) | To understand basic properties of asteroids and comets. |
| Class 9 | Solar System Small Bodies (2) | To think of the internal melting of meteorite parent bodies. |
| Class 10 | Formation of the Solar Systems (1): Star and Protoplanetary Disk Formation | To understand the formation of star and protoplanetary disk. |
| Class 11 | Formation of the Solar Systems (2): From dust particles to planetesimals. | To understand processes from dust particles to planetesimals. |
| Class 12 | Formation of the Solar Systems (3): Formation of planetary systems. | To understand formation processes of planetary systems. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None
Reference books, course materials, etc.
All materials used in the class can be found in OCW-i.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Homework assignments: 100%
Related courses
- EPS.B203 ： Mechanics (EPS course)
- EPS.B212 ： Electromagnetism (EPS course)
- EPS.B202 ： Thermodynamics (EPS course)
- LAS.A101 ： Earth and Space Sciences A
- LAS.A102 ： Earth and Space Sciences B
- LAS.A110 ： Earth and Space Sciences, Laboratory and Field Studies (geophysics)
- LAS.A111 ： Earth and Space Sciences, Laboratory and Field Studies (earth materials)
- LAS.A112 ： Earth and Space Sciences, Laboratory and Field Studies (astronomy)
- EPS.A333 ： Planetary Astronomy
Prerequisites
None