Goucher College

Energy, Physics and the Environment

PHY.250

Spring 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                        

 

 

 

· Instructor

 

Dr. Sasha Dukan
Office: Julia Rogers 111                                                   
phone: 410-337-6323
email: sdukan@goucher.edu
Office hours: M 1:30-2:30, W 12:30-1:30, and F 1:30-2:30.  Please respect this schedule and make an appointment to see me at other times. 

 

· Textbooks

 

Required: Ristinen and Kraushaar: Energy and the Environment, 3nd edition, Wiley.

Required: David JC MacKay: Sustainable Energy-Without the Hot Air, available to download for free at

http://www.withouthotair.com/.

 

Additional resources: We will extensively use the on-line databases available through the Goucher library or through the external links on GoucherLearn.

 

· Course Description

 

Introductory course  in environmental physics that emphasizes the physical principles behind the production, transport and conversion of energy.  The laws of thermodynamics and classical mechanics are applied to natural ecosystems and energy resources such as fossil fuels, nuclear energy, hydropower, wind, solar power etc.  These resources are analyzed in terms of the societal and environmental impacts of the associated technologies. 

 

 

· Course Learning Outcomes

 

By the end of the course, the student will be able to:

 

· Evaluate environmental sustainability issues by systematically using discipline-specific knowledge.

Each student will learn the physical principles behind the production, transport and conversion of energy

· Determine how personal and collective decisions and actions affect the environment.

Each student will be able to analyze societal and environmental issues related to energy production, transport and usage. Each student will be able to determine energy production/consumption  impact on our environment both locally and globally.

·  Formulate potential solutions to environmental sustainability problems taking into account the connections that exist between  society and natural systems.

Each student will be able to state his/her own opinion about future energy production, participate in the ongoing global debate and make informed decisions based on available scientific knowledge.

 

· Instructional Methods

 

Students have an opportunity to learn in depth the basic concepts of environmental physics from a variety of sources during the semester, including:

Þ Assigned textbook and literature readings

Þ Classroom lectures and discussions

Þ Directed search of internet sources

Þ Presentation of the independent projects

Þ Frequent computer demonstrations and simulations

Þ Homework assignments and presentation of solutions

Þ Discussions with me outside of the class

Þ Two in-class hourly exams

 

Classroom time will be mostly centered around the discussions and student participation is required. I do not keep attendance but unexcused absence will be noticed.

 

· Responsibilities of Students

 

In order to get the most out of this course:

Þ Attend each class, arrive on time and come prepared .  Read an assigned sections of the textbook before coming to the class so that you can fully participate in a discussion. 

Þ Participate in class by paying close attention to what is presented and participate in the discussions.

Þ Work on and try to complete all homework problems on time. You are encouraged to discuss problems with your peers but, if at all possible, complete these problems without assistance from anyone else.  Make your work neat and carefully organized.  If I can’t follow your solution then you will not receive a full credit.

Þ Come talk to me outside of the class frequently. Asking for help or hints with solving problems, or asking for clarification of the lectures or the textbook demonstrates your interest in the subject.

 

 

· Classroom Activities

 

Discussion based classroom instructions will not necessarily follow the sequence of topics presented in the textbook, there will be additional supplemental readings assigned. Second-half of the class (after the spring break) will be based mostly on the presentations of the independent projects.  There will be an extensive use of multimedia presentations in order to enhance classroom experience and connect covered material to everyday life.  A significant amount of time will be spent in developing problem solving strategies which are necessary in learning and understanding physics principles behind energy production, transport and use. Problems worked in the lectures will occasionally appear on the exams, so it is in your best interest to regularly attend the lectures. GoucherLearn will serve as an on-line board where you can find updated information related to the course as well as your weekly homework assignments and quizzes.

 

· Independent Projects

 

One of the course goals  is that each student in the class becomes an expert on a particular topic related to alternative/renewable energy use and its feasibility with current technology.   In the first week of classes each student will be assigned a research project from the following list:

 

Project 1: Batteries and Electric/Hybrid Cars

Project 2: Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Economy

Project 3: Prospects for Nuclear Fusion Reactors

Project 4: Solar Thermal Power Generation, Active and Passive Solar Heating and Power Generation

Project 5: Photovoltaic Cells, Direct Conversion of Solar to Electrical Energy

Project 6: Energy from Wind

Project 7: Hydroelectricity

Project 8: Energy from Waves and Tides

Project 9: Energy from Biomass: Fuels

Project 10: Energy from Biomass: Municipal Waste

Project 11: Geothermal  Energy

 

Student will  present a 20-min long presentation on an assigned project that will be followed by discussion in the class and write a 12-20 pages final paper due in the last week of classes. Student’s presentation and the paper will have to address  in depth scientific, social and environmental issues related to the topic. Complete presentation/paper guidelines  are posted on GoucherLearn while the schedule of the presentations and due dates for the final paper are posted in the class schedule. The papers will be peer-reviewed according to the schedule and timeline posted on GoucherLearn. Students are required to schedule a minimum of two meetings with me about the project—the first meeting before Mar 10 and the second meeting within a week after the presentation.

 

· Homework Assignments

 

Homework assignments will  have a variety of forms:

Þ Reading assignments

Þ 5 to 10 questions/problems per chapter per week,

Þ Projects involving internet and literature search

Þ Hands-on week-long projects

Þ Quizzes on GoucherLearn

 

These will be due at the beginning of the class according to the homework schedules.  No late homework will be accepted. Homework assignments and homework solutions will be posted on GoucherLearn. You are encouraged to work on a homework assignment with other students, but this does not mean distributing the work load or copying. The main purpose of a homework assignment is to give you practice in solving problems, further your understanding of issues discussed and prepare you for the exams. Search for the solutions on the internet and/or use of the solution sets that might be available on  the internet is strictly prohibited.  All students are bound by the standards of the Academic Honor Code and suspected violators will be sent to the Honors Board.

 

· Exams

 

There will be two in-class hour-long exams. Tentative dates which may be adjusted according to the rate at which the material is being covered are:

First exam:  Mar 24

Second exam: Final Exam Period

 

 

·    Grades

 

The course grade will be based upon exams, homework assignments, quality of peer review, and class participation. There will be no make-up exams. The grade breakdown is as follows:

Homework Assignments and Projects: 20%

Two hourly exams: 40%
Independent Project: 35% (Questions 5%, 35%Presentation ,50% paper,10%Peer Review)
Class participation (minimum of two scheduled office hour visits required): 5%

 
 The grade distribution will be as follows:

· A ≥90.1% ;  87.1% ≤ A- <90%;

· 83.1% ≤ B+ <87%; 73.1% ≤ B<83%; 70.1% ≤ B- <73%;

· 67.1% ≤ C+ <70%; 63.1% ≤ C < 67%; 60.1% ≤ C- < 63%;

· 57.1% ≤ D+ < 60%; 53.1% ≤ D < 57%; 50.1% ≤ D- < 53%;

· numerical grade below 50% is F

 

· Academic Ethics

 

All students are bound by the standards of the Academic Honor Code, found at

www.goucher.edu/documents/General/AcademicHonorCode.pdf
 
 

· Religious Observance Policy

 

If you need to request accommodation for religious observance, fill out the form available here: and submit it to me as soon as possible and at least two weeks before the observance. If you communicate with me in a timely manner and complete any mutually agreed upon make-up work, any such absences or schedule changes will be excused and will not adversely affect your grade.