GEOL 350 Environmental Geology

Environmental Physical Science at Black Hills State University

HomeAcademics Programs & Majors Natural Sciences Environmental Physical Science Classes Environmental Geology

This course will allow students to examine how human activities influence the earth’s physical environment. Students will apply a basic understanding of geological principles to better understand world environmental problems. Field trips to environmentally sensitive areas will be scheduled. An additional ‘Mandatory Fee’ applies to this course. (On Demand)

PreRequisite: GEOL 201
CoRequisite: None
Semester Hours: 3
Hydrology Labs and Tutorials
Excel Tutorial

Links

GIS/GPS Jobs:
GIS Data:

USGS Real Time Stream Flow
United State Geological Survey (USGS) Home Page
USGS Water Resources Division (great site for info on water quality, stream flow, and flood information)
State of SD Department of Natural Resources (clearinghouse for state projects)
Black Hills Hydrology Study (see the work underway in the Black Hills)

Sample Stress & Strain Questions

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A 10 kg object is sitting on a table on Earth, and has 0.1m of its surface in contact with the table. What is the gravitational force of the object, and what is the stress that this object applies on the table?

F = ma, F = 10 kg x 9.8 m/s², F = 98 kgm/s²
s = F/A, s = (98 kgm/s²) / (0.1 m), s = 980 kg/ms²

A drop of a fluid encounters a stress of 1000 Pa, and strains 0.5 in 5 seconds. What is the viscosity of the fluid? How much would the same fluid strain if the same stress was applied for 50 seconds?

s = h(e), h = s/(e), (e) = 0.5/5s, (e) = 0.1/s, h = 1000 Pa/(0.1/s), h = 10000 PaS (note strain rate = (e), strain = e)
e = (e) x time, e = 0.1/s x 50 s, e = 5

A block of rock is 10 meters long, 100 meters wide and 10 meters thick, and has a density of 3000 kg/m3. What is the stress beneath the block (assume it is on Earth)?

s = F/A, and F = ma, and m = density x volume
m = (3 x 10³ kg/m³) x (10m x 100m x 10m), m = 3 x 10⁷ kg
F = (3 x 10⁷ kg) x (9.8 m/s²) = 2.94 x 10⁸kgm/s²
s = (2.94 x 10⁸kgm/s²) / (10 m x 100 m ) = 2.94 x 10⁵kg/ms²

An object is originally 8 meters long, but only 7.6 meters after is compressed for 1 minute. What is the strain rate? If the stress is relieved but the object stays deformed, what kind of substance is it?

(e) = e/t, e = dL/L, e = 0.4m/8m, e = .05, (e) = 0.5/60s, (e) = .0008333, Plastic (elastic would regain original form)

A stress of 1000 Pa is applied to a liquid that is 1 meter long. The object is 1 m long after the strain is applied for 30 seconds. You then apply a stress of 10000 Pa, and the object deforms substantially. What kind of substance is this? Why didn't it deform under 1000 Pa of stress?

Bingham plastic, Yield strength is greater than 1000 Pa but less than 10000 Pa.