Syllabus for physics P310, Fall '07
Course description for P310
The purpose of this course is to look at the application of physical
principles
to environmental issues. In particular we will try to understand some
of
the limits placed by scientific laws on humankind's use of
environmental
resources, energy resources in particular. Prerequisite: P201 or P221;
Math M215; some familiarity with computer spreadsheets is helpful (the
DOE web site allows the downloading of energy data in spreadsheet
format).
Possible discussion points:
1. Based on current estimates of energy resources and energy
consumption,
what can expect about future energy resources and consumption?
- Status of current sources of energy?
- Who uses how much energy? (Relative amounts used by various
populations,
industries?)
- What are the known available reserves?
- How are projected reserves determined?
- What is the current status of alternative energy sources such as
solar
heating, solar electric, geothermal, wind, nuclear, etc.
- What is the estimated possible total contribution of alternative
sources?
- Projections for the future: when will we have to switch from
petroleum
to something else?
2. Where can we 'save' energy?
- What are the limits to energy efficiency imposed by the laws of
thermodynamics?
- Given the current energy content of gasoline, that is the
theoretical
maximum
gas mileage possible?
- What is the efficiency of various heat engines? (Gas, electric,
Stirling)
- Why are fuel cells not subject to the same efficiency rules as
heat
engines?
- Where are the biggest savings in recycling and why?
- What are some reasonable estimates of the amount of energy that
can be
'saved' by improvements in efficiency?
- Projections for the future: best case/worst case.
3. What do we know about the greenhouse effect?
- What is the difference between weather and climate?
- What is blackbody radiation?
- What is the greenhouse effect? What would cause a
global
effect?
- What remote sensing data do we have access to and how is it
gathered?
- What is the evidence that there is global warming (radio-isotope
dating methods)?
- How does the current warming trend fit in with natural
temperature
fluctuations
on a geological time scale?
- What is the difference between a weather model and a climate
model?
- How accurate are current numerical climate models?
- What is the evidence that the current warming is caused by humans?
- What effect on human activity would a 3 degree Celsius
temperature rise
cause?
4. What is pollution and how do we deal with it?
- What is noise pollution?
- How do we quantify pollution flow rates in solids, liquids and
gasses?
- What should be done with radioactive wastes?
- What are the relative risks of various pollutants (e.g. natural
versus human made)?
- What is radon and how should it be dealt with?
- Is there away to avoid thermal pollution?
Grading:
If there are only a few students (as I anticipate) the course will be
run
something like a seminar. Your grade will be determined in the
following way:
- An assignment will be made for each week of class (you are
responsible for the assignment even if
you do not attend class - see the assignment page). The assignments may
consist of an article or
book chapter to read, one or more homework problems, a web site to
visit and take notes on or a combination of the above.
- A discussion of the assignment will take place
at the two class meetings with each student presenting what they have
learned regarding the assignment. Your contribution to the discussion
will constitute 10% of your grade- please come prepared to answer
questions and contribute information on the assignment (I will be
asking you questions, not presenting new information).
- The week following the discussion you will hand in the assignment
for the previous week. The handed in assignment may take the form of a
short summary essay, problem solutions
or contributions to be posted on the Environmental Physics Web page
(graphs, definitions or discussions). In some cases your assignment may
be a detailed
calculation
(using referenced sources) based on a homework problem. These will be
graded and constitute 70% of your grade.
- Just before Thanksgiving I will hand out a take home final, due
on Dec 10. This will be a project which will require you to summarize
many of the topics we will discuss during the semester. You may consult
any source you wish, including other students (but please be aware that
students can be expelled from IU for plagiarism). The final will count
as 20% of your grade.
- Grades (updated each week- please
check for errors).
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