Module Identifier PH19010  
Module Title ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT  
Academic Year 2001/2002  
Co-ordinator Professor Geraint Vaughan  
Semester Semester 2  
Other staff Dr Lorraine Allen, Dr Philip Cadman  
Pre-Requisite None - module is highly suitable for non Physics students  
Co-Requisite None  
Mutually Exclusive None  
Course delivery Lecture   20 lectures  
Assessment Exam   2 Hours end of semester examination   100%  

Brief description


Energy is a vital resource in our society. Its use and misuse has implications for the environment, and these issues have assumed dramatic proportions recently. This module discusses the fundamental physics behind energy resources, both conventional and alternative, in order to provide a balanced view of environmental implications. In this approach, the interdisciplinary nature of the subject is evident, and the module gives special emphasis to changes in the atmosphere - including acid rain and the greenhouse effect. The module is suitable for undergraduates of any discipline.

Learning outcomes


After taking this module students should be able to:

Outline syllabus


Basic Physics:
   Energy and Power. Conservation of Energy. Forms of energy
   Structure of the atom and the nucleus
   Radioactivity, fission and fusion
   Theory of heat engines and the laws of thermodynamics
   Heat engines and heat pumps
   Heat transfer - conduction, convection and radiation


Conversion of energy:
   Types of energy and energy conversion.
   Comparison of energy content and efficiency of different fuels.   
   Use of energy in society.
   How turbines generate electricity. Coal, oil and gas power stations
   Nuclear energy
   Hydroelectricity and tidal generation. Wind turbine. Solar energy.
   Advantages and disadvantages of different methods of generating electricity, including
   Nuclear fusion


Environmental Issues:
   Environmental risks of nuclear power
   Environmental consequences of burning fossil fuels
   (i)   Basic meteorology of burning plumes,
   (ii) Acid rain,   
   (iii) Global warming: basic principles and feedback mechanisms
   (iv) Use of models for prediction.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
J.J. Kraushaar and R.A. Ristinen. Energy and Problems of a Technical Society. Wiley, 1993. ISBN 0-471-57310-8
R.A. Ristinen and J.J. Kraushaar. Energy and the Environment. Wiley, 1999. ISBN 0-471-1728-0