Rates of Geologic Processes: Problems for an Introductory Geology Course

Geologic processes occur over a range of time scales. Introductory geology courses should provide students with an understanding of earth processes as well as the rates at which these processes operate. Three quantitative problems involving the rate of radioactive decay, the movement of groundwater pollution, and the rate of erosion in the Himalayas are described. These problems require students to graph data, understand units and orders of magnitude, manipulate equations, and put numerical answers into a broader geologic context.