2024 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Basic science and technology courses
Earth and Space Sciences A B
- Academic unit or major
- Basic science and technology courses
- Instructor(s)
- Tetsuya Yokoyama / Satoshi Okuzumi / Yoko Kebukawa / Shigeru Ida / Hidenori Genda
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Tue / 7-8 Fri
- Class
- B
- Course Code
- LAS.A101
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course will provide an overview of modern earth and space sciences. Especially, from the view point of materials comprising our world, students understand the structure and the mechanism of our world such as universe, galaxies, stars, nucleosynthesis, the solar system, planets, Earth, and life. The origin of our solar system, the structure of Earth, and the evolution of environment and life on Earth are introduced including the latest progress.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to understand basic concepts of modern earth and space sciences based on fundamental laws of physics and chemistry.
Keywords
astrophysics, planetary physics, cosmochemistry
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
At the beginning of the class, a summary of the previous lecture is given. Then the main points of the day's lecture are presented, and students are asked to provide solutions to some of the questions as necessary.
The order of contents listed in the plan may change.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Materials in the universe and Earth | Understand the overview of the material circulation in the universe and Earth |
| Class 2 | Elements and their origins | Element and nucleus, Big Bang nucleosynthesis |
| Class 3 | Nucleosynthesis in stars | Nucleosynthesis in stars |
| Class 4 | From the galaxy to stars and planets | Galaxies, molecular clouds, protostars, protoplanetary disks |
| Class 5 | Solar system: Planets | Sun and planets |
| Class 6 | Solar system: small bodies | Understand the basics of chronology based on radioactive isotopes. |
| Class 7 | Formation theory of solar system | Understand basic concepts of solar-system formation. |
| Class 8 | Astrobiology | Extraterrestrial life |
| Class 9 | Evolution of solid Earth | Platetechtonics |
| Class 10 | Evolution of planets environments | Evolution of atmosphere, initial atmosphere, oxidization, continental growth |
| Class 11 | Evolution of Earth life | History of life, Co-evolution/interaction of Earth and life |
| Class 12 | Chemical evolution of solar system | Solar abundance, differentiation |
| Class 13 | Interiors of terrestrial planets | Crust, mantle, core, lithosphere |
| Class 14 | Rocks forming Earth | Igneous rock petrology, differentiation |
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)
Uchu Chikyu Kagaku, Bun'ei Sato and Hideo Tsunakawa, Kohdansya
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Reference books and course materials are introduced during the course.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Student's understanding of materials explained in classes will be assessed with exercise problems. The actual evaluation method will be announced at the beginning of the first class.
Related courses
- 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)
Prerequisites
None