GE242 - PLANETARY INTERIORS

courses

ID:

GE242

Duration (hours):

60

CFU:

SSD:

ASTRONOMIA E ASTROFISICA

Located in:

PESCARA

Url:

Course Details:

PLANETARY SCIENCES/PLANETARY SCIENCES AND SPACE EXPLORATION Year: 2

Year:

2025

Course Catalogue:

https://unich.coursecatalogue.cineca.it/af/2025?co...

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (22/09/2025 - 23/12/2025)

Course Objectives

The course aims to provide students with a solid understanding of the physical and geophysical processes that govern the internal structure and evolution of planetary bodies. By the end of the course, students will be able to:

Understand the fundamental principles of gravity, rotation, and isostasy in planetary systems

Apply theoretical models to interpret gravity and topography data

Analyze the propagation of seismic waves and their implications for interior structure

Understand the mechanisms of heat production and transport in solid planets and icy moons

Describe the rheological behavior of planetary materials and its impact on interior dynamics

Evaluate the role of mantle convection, core formation, and magnetic field generation

Apply concepts of thermal and orbital evolution to planetary bodies

Integrate observational data and modeling approaches to infer planetary interior properties

Course Prerequisites

There are no formal prerequisites for this course. A general background in physics and mathematics is recommended.

Teaching Methods

The course consists of theoretical lectures and practical exercises.Lectures provide the physical background and scientific framework needed to understand the internal structure and evolution of planetary bodies. Exercises focus on the application of these concepts through quantitative problem solving and the analysis of case studies based on real planetary data.

Assessment Methods

The final grade will be based on two components:

Written Exam: A test consisting of theoretical and quantitative questions designed to assess the student’s overall understanding of the course content.

Oral Exam: An individual interview aimed at further evaluating the student’s comprehension and ability to apply concepts related to planetary interior processes.

The final score will be the average of the written and oral exam grades.

Texts

de Pater, I., & Lissauer, J. J. (2015). Planetary Sciences (2nd Edition). Cambridge University Press.

This textbook provides a comprehensive and well-structured overview of planetary science, covering the physical principles, processes, and observational data relevant to both the Solar System and exoplanetary systems. It is strongly recommended as a reference throughout the course.

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the internal structure and thermal evolution of planets and icy moons. Students will explore the physical principles and geophysical methods used to investigate planetary interiors, with a strong focus on gravity, rotational dynamics, isostasy, elasticity, seismology, heat transport, mantle convection and core formation.
The course also covers the role of planetary rheology and magnetic field generation, as well as the coupling between thermal and orbital evolution.
Key topics include:

Gravity field analysis and moment of inertia
Rotational dynamics
Tides
Isostatic compensation and gravity anomalies
Seismic wave propagation and interior models
Core composition and planetary dynamos
Rheological behavior of planetary materials
Heat production and transport mechanisms
Mantle convection and tectonic regimes
Thermal-orbital evolution of planetary bodies

Throughout the course, theoretical concepts are applied through exercises and problem-solving based on real planetary data.