SYLLABUS
| Purpose: |
Soil is a three-phase system comprised
of solid, liquid and gas phases distributed in a complex geometry
and giving rise to large solid-liquid and liquid-gas interfacial
areas. These interfaces determine, to a significant extent, the
physical and biological properties of soils. The objective of this
course is to familiarize students with the fundamental forces arising
from interfaces and then to use that basis to explore the effects
of interfaces on transport of dissolved substances and gasses, and
on biological processes. The course is organized into four units.
The first unit will introduce students to the theories used to quantify
physical phenomena occurring at interfaces and the properties of
thin films. The second unit introduces concepts of transport through
saturated media and the use of breakthrough curves as diagnostic
tools. The third unit is a transition from saturated media to unsaturated
media and focuses on the effects of interfaces on transport. The
final unit deals with transport through unsaturated media. The course
is designed for graduate students or advanced undergraduate in soil
science, earth sciences, physics, chemistry and engineering who
desire to have a better understanding of the applications of surface
chemistry and reactive transport through porous media. Students
should have a background in chemistry, physics and calculus. |
| Instructors: |
Dr. Lynn Dudley, Ag.
Sci. 356, 797-2184, ldud@mendel.usu.edu |
| Office Hours: | Lynn: MWF 1:30-3:30. Dani: by appointment. |
| Text: |
The Physical Chemistry of Surfaces, (6th ed.), Arthur Adamson |
| Grades: | Grades will be based on the results of two examinations given at approximately six-week intervals. The exams will be equally weighted and each worth 25% of the final grade. Thirty percent of the final grade will be based on a class project. Students may work individually or in small groups on a project. Group projects must be cleared with the instructor. The topic must be cleared with the instructors before spring break. The projects will be presented in the class during the last two weeks of the semester. The project should be an application of the course material to the students' research problem or area of interest or the instructors will assign a model of reactive transport for the student to critically analyze and present in class. The project could be a literature review of a well-define subject, data-set analysis or a modeling exercise. The topic should be cleared with the instructors by the first midterm. The homework will not be graded, but is given as a study guide for the exams. The lecture immediately preceding each exam will review solutions to the problem sets. Additional readings may be assigned during the semester and 20% of the final grade will be determined by WebCT administered quizzes on the reading material. |
| Reading list: |
Specific readings from the text, literature or supplemental material will be given at the beginning of each week. The following list of topics gives the general organization of the course. Weeks 1 through
6 - Fundamental Aspects of Interfaces Weeks 7 through
9 - Transport through Saturated Porous Media Weeks 10
through 11 - Transport Processes and Interfaces |
| Statement of reasonable accommodation: | If a student has a disability that will likely require some accommodation by the instructor, the student must contact the instructor and document the disability through the Disability Resource Center. In cooperation with the Disability Resource Center, course material may be provided in alternative formats--large print, audio, diskette or Braille upon request. |
Comments? E-mail chaves@cc.usu.edu - Page last updated on 01/16/2002 at 10:30.