The following is a list of links to reading material from a variety of sources. Use of some of this material is password protected and restricted to use by students currently enrolled in Physical Science 101. This material may only be used for the purpose of completing the required reading assignments. All copyright laws apply. Electronic copying and distribution of this material is prohibited.

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Introduction to Course

How to Succeed & Expectations of Students  

Origin of the Universe and Solar System

The Evolution of the Universe - Scientific American, October 1994 (Article in Canvas)
The Earth's Elements - Scientific American, October 1994 (Article in Canvas)
The Evolution of the Earth - Scientific American, October 1994 (Article in Canvas)
The Origin of the Universe, Earth, and Life - National Academy of Sciences web page
Big Bang Theory - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Doppler Effect - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Edwin Hubble - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Milton Humason - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Planetary System Formation - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Population I Stars - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Population II Stars - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Vesto Slipher - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Revolution - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Rotation - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Ecliptic Plane - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Orbits - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Terrestrial Planets - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Jovian Planets: Gas Giants - Internet Encyclopedia of Science  

Sun

Solar Physics - NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center web page.
     Solar Structure
          The Interior
          The Photosphere
          The Chromosphere
          The Transition Region
          The Corona
          The Solar Wind
          The Heliosphere
     Solar Features
          Photospheric Features
          Chromospheric Features
          Coronal Features
          Solar Wind Features
     The Sun in Action
          The Sunspot Cycle
          Solar Flares
          Post Flare Loops
          Coronal Mass Ejections
          Surface and Interior Flows
          Helioseismology
Absolute Zero - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Atoms - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Isotopes - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Nuclear Fission - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Nuclear Fusion - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Nuclear Fusion: Proton-Proton Chain - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Chromosphere - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Corona - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Granulations - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Helioseismology - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Hydrostatic Equilibrium - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Photosphere - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Solar Flares - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Solar Prominence - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Sun: Sunspots - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Temperature - Internet Encyclopedia of Science  

Planetary Geology

Impact Craters: Traces of Catastrophe - Lunar and Planetary Institute free online publication dealing with terrestrial impact craters. Focus on Chapters 1, 2 and 3 (PDF files).  

Moon

Teacher's Guide from "The Moon: Gateway to the Solar System" - a NASA JSC ARES web page (673K PDF file)
Moon ABCs Fact Sheet from "The Moon: Gateway to the Solar System" - a NASA JSC ARES web page (62K PDF file)
Rock ABCs Fact Sheet from "The Moon: Gateway to the Solar System" - a NASA NASA web page (55K PDF file)
Tides, the Earth, the Moon, and why our days are getting longer - Phil Plait's Bad Astronomy web page
The Moon - The Nine Planets
Lunar Phases - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Lunar Time - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Moon - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Moonquakes - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Tides - Internet Encyclopedia of Science  

Extrasolar Planets

Extrasolar Planets - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Extrasolar Planets: Detection - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
Extrasolar Planets: Searches - Internet Encyclopedia of Science
NOVA Alien Planets Revealed - Read Transcript for program - PBS NOVA web page  

Maps and Location Systems

Chapter 2a. Introduction to Maps - PhysicalGeography.net web page.
Chapter 2b. Location, Distance, and Direction on Maps - PhysicalGeography.net web page.
Chapter 2c. Map Location and Time Zones - PhysicalGeography.net web page.
Chapter 2d. Topographic Maps - PhysicalGeography.net web page.
Map Projections: A Working Manual - by John P. Snyder, USGS Professional Paper 1532. This is an abridged version of the original publication. PDF file.
Longitude and Latitude - by Richard Harwood  

Time

A Walk through Time - A NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory Presentation web page.
Astronomical Time Keeping - The Munich Astro Archive web page.
Time of Day - Skywise Unlimited web page.
The Seasons - Skywise Unlimited web page.  

Plate Tectonics & Plate Boundaries

This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics - United States Geological Survey web page
This Dynamic Earth: World Map of Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Impact Craters, and Plate Tectonics - United States Geological Survey, Geologic Investigations Map I-2800, PDF file
This Dynamic Earth: Understanding Plate Motion - United States Geological Survey web page
This Dynamic Earth: Hotspots, Mantle Thermal Plumes - United States Geological Survey web page
This Dynamic Earth: Plate Tectonics and People - United States Geological Survey web page
Plate Tectonics - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page  

Minerals

Minerals - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Lab 7: Mineral Physical Properties and Identification - Physical Science 101 Lab Manual (Lab Manual for course)

The Definition of a Mineral - by Ernest H. Nickel, 1995, The Canadian Mineralogist, vol. 33, pp. 689-690. Mineralogical Society of America PDF File.
Mineral Definitions - Mineralogy Database web page.
Introduction to Mineralogy - Andrea Bangert web page.
Mineralogy: A historical review - Hazen, R.M. (1984) Mineralogy: A historical review: Journal of Geological Education 32, 288-298. PDF File.  

Rocks and the Rock Cycle

What is the Rock Cycle? - Idaho Museum of Natural History web page
Rock Cycle Diagram - Geology.About.com web page
Magmas and Igneous Rocks - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page  

Volcanoes

Volcanoes - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Volcanoes - by Robert I. Tilling, USGS web page  

Earthquakes

Earthquakes & the Earth's Interior - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Earthquakes - by Kaye M. Shedlock & Louis C. Pakiser, USGS web page

Earth Revealed: Earthquakes video. This video will not be viewed in class. Watch this video. Once on the web page, scroll down the video listings to "9. Earthquakes" and click on the "VoD" icon.  

Weathering and Erosion

Weathering and Soils - read section entitled "Weathering" - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page
Mass Movements - - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson EENS1110 web page  

Solar Interactions

Chapter 6i. Earth-Sun Relationships and Insolation - PhysicalGeography.net web page.
Chapter 7j. Global Heat Balance: Introduction to Heat Fluxese - PhysicalGeography.net web page.  

Temperature

Chapter 7k. The Concept of Temperature - PhysicalGeography.net web page.
Chapter 7l. Daily and Annual Cycles of Temperature - PhysicalGeography.net web page.
Chapter 7w. Introduction to Applied Climatology - PhysicalGeography.net web page.  

Atmospheric Moisture and Cloud Formation

1. Water - A Maverick Compound - Chapter 1 from Water, by Luna B. Leopold and Kenneth S. Davis, Time-Life Books Life Science Library, 1966.
Chapter 8a. Physical Properties of Water - PhysicalGeography.net web page.
Chapter 8b. The Hydrologic Cycle - PhysicalGeography.net web page.
Chapter 8d. Condensation, Freezing, and Deposition - PhysicalGeography.net web page.
Chapter 8c. Atmospheric Humidity - PhysicalGeography.net web page.
Chapter 8e. Cloud Formation Processes - PhysicalGeography.net web page.
Chapter 8f. Precipitation and Fog - Read the "Fog" section - PhysicalGeography.net web page.  

Tornadoes

Tornadoes & Other Severe Weather - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson, EENS3050 web page
Chapter 7t. Thunderstorms and Tornadoes - PhysicalGeography.net web page.  

Hurricanes

Chapter 7u. Tropical Weather and Hurricanes - PhysicalGeography.net web page.
Tropical Cyclones - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson, EENS3050 web page  

Global Warming

Global Warming: A Short Discourse - by Richard Harwood
Climate Change: Evidence & Causes - The Royal Society & U.S. National Academy of Sciences PDF file.
Our Changing Planet - Dr. Stephen A. Nelson, EENS1110 web page
Chapter 7x. Earth's Climatic History - PhysicalGeography.net web page.
Chapter 7y. Causes of Climate Change - PhysicalGeography.net web page.

 

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