2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Science Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Laboratory in Earth and Planetary Sciences (geophysical measurements)
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Taro Okamoto / Masaki Matsushima / Akira Ishikawa
- Class Format
- Experiment
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- EPS.L204
- Number of credits
- 001
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This laboratory course covers analog circuits using operational amplifiers to understand principles and characteristics of analog circuits required for geophysical measurements. Students will learn how to use measuring instruments, how to design and build sensor circuits, how to acquire time series data AD converter, and analyze time series data using a personal computer.
In Earth and Planetary Sciences, various kinds of data are acquired by measuring physical phenomena using various instruments. Students will learn principles and characteristics of instruments required to perform measurements and carry out data analyses.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to
(1) Use measuring instruments, such as an oscilloscope and a function generator.
(2) Design and build analog circuits, such as amplifier circuits and filter circuits.
(3) Carry out calibration tests for sensors.
(4) Acquire time series data using a personal computer with an AD converter.
(5) Analyze time series data using a personal computer.
Keywords
Physical measurement, Electronic circuit, Analog circuit, Data analysis
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Each student must design, build and measure analog circuits by oneself.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Analog circuit: Design and build of amplifier circuits using operational amplifiers, and measurement of circuit behavior using measuring instruments. | Design and build amplifier circuits using an operational amplifier. |
| Class 2 | Analog circuit: Design and build of filter circuits, and measurement of circuit behavior using measuring instruments. | Design and build filter circuits using an operational amplifier. |
| Class 3 | Analog circuit: Design and build of differential amplifier circuits, and measurement of circuit behavior using measuring instruments. Data compilation. | Design and build differential amplifier circuits using operational amplifiers. |
| Class 4 | Analog circuit: Design and build of constant-voltage circuits which drive sensors, and measurement of circuit behavior using measuring instruments. | Design and build constant-voltage circuits which drive sensors. |
| Class 5 | Sencor circuit: Calibration test of acceleration sensor. | Carry out calibration tests of an acceleration sensor. |
| Class 6 | Sencor circuit: Acquisition of time series data of ground acceleration using an acceleration sensor circuit. | Acquire time series data using a personal computer. |
| Class 7 | Data analysis: Data analysis of time series of ground acceleration using a personal computer. | Anylize time series data using a personal computer. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students must spend a certain length of time to write a report on preparation problems for each class by referring to a textbook distributed before the course. They must spend another certain length of time to write a report on contents, results, analyses, and consideration with respect to experiments for each class.
Textbook(s)
We distribute a textbook for Laboratory in Earth and Planetary Sciences (geophysical measurement).
Reference books, course materials, etc.
References are found in the textbook.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students' knowledge and understanding of analog circuits, sensor circuits, data aquisition, and data analyses will be assessed by contents of laboratory reports.
Related courses
- EPS.L201 ： Experimental Methods of Earth and Planetary Sciences (safety and data analysis)
- EPS.L202 ： Laboratory in Earth and Planetary Sciences (petrology)
- EPS.L203 ： Laboratory in Earth and Planetary Sciences (geochemistry)
- EPS.L205 ： Laboratory in Earth and Planetary Sciences (field geology)
Prerequisites
Students must have successfully completed Experimental Methods of Earth and Planetary Sciences (safety and analysis) (EPS.L201).