Physics 190E – Energy & Society – Fall 2007

 

The course covers broadly the basic physics of energy in its many different forms; energy use in our society in the past, present & future; the greenhouse effect and climate change; alternative energy sources.

 

The course also dealt with many energy & climate related news issues that came up in the course of the semester.

 

¥ Here is a short article written for the Physics Department newsletter about the rationale for the course.

¥ Course syllabus

¥ The course requirements include three 900-1200 word papers on subjects that we have touched upon, but not had time to fully explore in the lectures.  Here are the lists of topics for the first, second and third papers.

 

¥ A list of some web resources on energy & climate change issues

 

¥ PDF files of lectures

 

Lecture 1 – Course Introduction, Why Study Energy?

Lecture 2 – Laws of Thermodynamics, Units of Energy, Kinetic Energy

Lecture 3 – Gravitational Potential Energy and Thermal Energy

Lecture 4 – Thermal Energy and Chemical Energy

Lecture 5 – Chemical Energy, Photosynthesis, Origin of the Atmosphere

Lecture 6 – U.S. Energy Usage, Origin of Fossil Fuels

Lecture 7 – Oil Production, Consumption, Export and Import

Lecture 8 – WhatÕs in a Barrel of Oil, Oil Refining

Lecture 9 – Oil Refineries, Fuel Efficiency, Natural Gas

Lecture 10 – More Fuel Efficiency, Coal

Lecture 11 – Coal & its Environmental Impact

Lecture 12 – Acid Rain, CO2 from Coal, Calories and Food Energy

Lecture 13 – Non-conventional Oil, Greenhouse Effect

Lecture 14 – Temperature of the Earth

Lecture 15 – Greenhouse Effect

Lecture 16 – Global Warming

Lecture 17 – Global Warming & CO2 Levels

Lecture 18 – CO2 Levels & Future Warming Predictions

Lecture 19 – Kyoto Protocol, Clean Development Mechanism, Carbon Cap & Trade

Lecture 20 – Voluntary Carbon Offsets

Lecture 21 – Nuclear Power

Lecture 22 – Nuclear Binding Energy, Chain Reactions

Lecture 23 – Nuclear Reactors, Nuclear Waste and Safety Issues

Lecture 24 – Wind Power

Lecture 25 – Wind Power in Massachusetts, How Photocells work

Lecture 26 – PV cells and Solar Thermal Power

Lecture 27 – Biofuels