The course “Tides: Introduction and Modeling” will be given by Professor Clodoaldo Grotta Ragazzo (University of São Paulo) and will consist in 3 lessons of 3:00 hours, with lesson notes.

The focus will be on rheology of the Earth/planets and the calculation of tidal forces. The astronomical effects due to these forces (circularisation of orbits and spin-orbit synchronisation) will be restricted to the beginning of the course.

A more detailed program follows:

  1. Qualitative theory of tides and their effects;
  2. Frames of reference for rotating bodies, centrifugal and tidal forces, definition of Love numbers;
  3. Fluid Love number, Spring-dashpot models for viscoelastic materials, and the rheology of spherically symmetric bodies by means of the "Association Principle" of Ragazzo-Ruiz;
  4. The computation of Love numbers by means of Layered Incompressible Models (based on the book: "Global Dynamics of the Earth" by Roberto Sabadini, Bert Vermeersen, and Gabriele Cambiotti);
  5. Equivalence between simple multilayered and homogeneous laboratory-based rheological models in planetary science (based on recent work by Gevorgyan, Matsuyama, and Ragazzo);
  6. Examples: Love numbers obtained from observations and Love numbers obtained from numerical integrations of layered models.

The 3 lectures will take place at the Physics Department of UC on the following days and in the following rooms:

  • 31 January: 'Qualitative theory of tides', 14h-17h, room E.10A
  • 3 February: 'Rheological models for multilayered bodies', 14h-17h, room AD.1
  • 4 February: 'Conclusions and examples', 14h-17h, room E.10A