Not offered 2007-2008
PHYS 108 Heat, Energy, and the Environment (Q)
Why is the earth the temperature that it is? Why does a diesel engine get better mileage than a gasoline one? How much energy can be harnessed through wind power? How does a hydrogen fuel cell work, and is it a viable replacement for the internal combustion engine? Before a citizen can adequately address any of these questions he or she must be aware of the physical laws behind them. This course will explore these and other questions from the viewpoint of a physicist. By examining these issues in detail we will learn about the physics and technology underlying them. We will discover that the first and second laws of thermodynamics place fundamental limits upon what any environmental or energy policy can do. This course is designed for students who are not physics majors and many of the class meetings will involve hands-on projects.
Format: lecture. There will be weekly quizzes based upon the reading and assigned problems. Evaluation will be based on weekly quizzes, in-class exams, and independent student projects, each of which will have a substantial quantitative component (see the description of the QFR requirement).
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 40 (expected: 40). Preference given to students based on seniority.