Fundamental Planetary Science: Physics, Chemistry and Habitability

Cambridge University Press, 2013. - 583 pp.
A quantitative introduction to the Solar System and planetary systems science for advanced undergraduate students, this engaging new textbook explains the wide variety of physical, chemical and geological processes that govern the motions and properties of planets, as well as how life interacts with a planet. The authors provide an overview of our current knowledge and discuss some of the unanswered questions at the forefront of research in planetary science and astrobiology today. They combine knowledge of the Solar System and the properties of extrasolar planets with astrophysical observations of ongoing star and planet formation, offering a comprehensive model for understanding the origin of planetary systems. This book concludes with an introduction to the fundamental properties of living organisms and the relationship that life has to its host planet. With more than two hundred exercises to help students learn how to apply the concepts covered, this textbook is ideal for a one-semester or two-quarter course for undergraduate students majoring in the physical or biological sciences or in engineering.Contents:
Introduction.
Dynamics.
Physics and Astrophysics.
Solar Heating and Energy Transport.
Planetary Atmospheres.
Surfaces and Interiors.
Sun, Solar Wind and Magnetic Fields.
Giant Planets.
Terrestrial Planets and the Moon.
Planetary Satellites.
Meteorites.
Minor Planets and Comets.
Planetary Rings.
Extrasolar Planets.
Planet Formation.
Planets and Life.