Università Roma Tre

The aim of this course is to provide the basis on the dynamics (i.e. forces) controlling the evolution of the earth. In this class, we will introduce and use continuum mechanics to study and understand cause-effect relationships between geometry, kinematics and dynamics of the solid earth, to allow the students to identify and quantitatively analyze the relations between causes (i.e. forces and stresses) and effects (i.e., tectonics). The subjects include the role played by volume (e.g. gravity) and surface forces (e.g. plate tectonics, lithospheric stresses) and their interactions with the materials and structures of the Earth lithosphere and mantle.
Subjects will be presented from the basic theoretical background up to their applications to selected natural cases, also thanks to the active involvement of the students (e.g., reading selected articles, on line sources, exercises)