EPS SCI M7
Perils of Space: Introduction to Space Weather
Description: (Same as Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences M7.) Lecture, four hours. Concepts of plasma physics. Dynamic sun, solar wind, and Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere. Space storms and substorms and their impacts on astronauts, spacecraft, and surface power and communication grids. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2025 - This class is a great GE if you want an easy A. The lecture material was pretty interesting and professor Cao is super nice. There is homework due each week that are very manageable in length. There is one midterm that was exactly like the midterm practice problems. You get a sheet of paper front and back for the midterm as well. There is a final recorded presentation at the end of the quarter on any topic you want as long as it relates to the class. The hardest part of this class was the final, but it is not bad at all. Take this class if you can!
Fall 2025 - This class is a great GE if you want an easy A. The lecture material was pretty interesting and professor Cao is super nice. There is homework due each week that are very manageable in length. There is one midterm that was exactly like the midterm practice problems. You get a sheet of paper front and back for the midterm as well. There is a final recorded presentation at the end of the quarter on any topic you want as long as it relates to the class. The hardest part of this class was the final, but it is not bad at all. Take this class if you can!
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2024 - Prof Varney is a nice guy with a clear passion for his content. He's accommodating and useful BUT he goes through content in lectures super quickly. You will NOT be able to keep up with content if you're typing (let alone writing) notes during class. I'm a relatively fast typer so sometimes it was manageable but for the most part you'll have to just go to lecture (attendance is mandatory through iclicker) and listen, then take notes from the slides. Slides were helpful. He also assumes that you have all this prior knowledge about space/physics concepts which made it quite stressful for someone like me with absolutely none, but its not even on purpose. My TA was a lifesaver at catching me up but I went to discussions and his OHs for like 3hrs/week + lectures so definitely time consuming. Midterm was kinda hard, not a lot of room for error (some MCQs and some FRQs) so I did a tiny bit below average but worked my ass off for the final. The final project is also lowkey crazy because he expects you to do/know a lot but I do think I just did too much, did pay off tho since the TA was very impressed and gave me almost 100%. Overall an interesting class but if you're aiming for an A, just be ready to put in a good chunk of your time and effort.
Fall 2024 - Prof Varney is a nice guy with a clear passion for his content. He's accommodating and useful BUT he goes through content in lectures super quickly. You will NOT be able to keep up with content if you're typing (let alone writing) notes during class. I'm a relatively fast typer so sometimes it was manageable but for the most part you'll have to just go to lecture (attendance is mandatory through iclicker) and listen, then take notes from the slides. Slides were helpful. He also assumes that you have all this prior knowledge about space/physics concepts which made it quite stressful for someone like me with absolutely none, but its not even on purpose. My TA was a lifesaver at catching me up but I went to discussions and his OHs for like 3hrs/week + lectures so definitely time consuming. Midterm was kinda hard, not a lot of room for error (some MCQs and some FRQs) so I did a tiny bit below average but worked my ass off for the final. The final project is also lowkey crazy because he expects you to do/know a lot but I do think I just did too much, did pay off tho since the TA was very impressed and gave me almost 100%. Overall an interesting class but if you're aiming for an A, just be ready to put in a good chunk of your time and effort.
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