The Physics of Energy

Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part I Basic Energy Physics and Uses
1 Introduction
	1.1 Units and Energy Quantities
	1.2 Types of Energy
	1.3 Scales of Energy
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
2 Mechanical Energy
	2.1 Kinetic Energy
	2.2 Potential Energy
	2.3 Air Resistance and Friction
	2.4 Rotational Mechanics
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
3 Electromagnetic Energy
	3.1 Electrostatics, Capacitance, and Energy Storage
	3.2 Currents, Resistance, and Resistive Energy Loss
	3.3 Magnetism
	3.4 Electric Motors and Generators
	3.5 Induction and Inductors
	3.6 Maxwell’s Equations
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
4 Waves and Light
	4.1 Waves and a Wave Equation
	4.2 Waves on a String
	4.3 Electromagnetic Waves
	4.4 Energy and Momentum in Electric and Magnetic Fields
	4.5 General Features of Waves and Wave Equations
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
5 Thermodynamics I: Heat and Thermal Energy
	5.1 What is Heat?
	5.2 Pressure and Work
	5.3 First Law of Thermodynamics
	5.4 Heat Capacity
	5.5 Enthalpy
	5.6 Phase Transitions
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
6 Heat Transfer
	6.1 Mechanisms of Heat Transfer
	6.2 Heat Conduction
	6.3 Heat Transfer by Convection and Radiation
	6.4 Preventing Heat Loss from Buildings
	6.5 The Heat Equation
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
7 Introduction to Quantum Physics
	7.1 Motivation: The Double Slit Experiment
	7.2 Quantum Wavefunctions and the Schrödinger Wave Equation
	7.3 Energy and Quantum States
	7.4 Quantum Superposition
	7.5 Quantum Measurement
	7.6 Time Dependence
	7.7 Quantum Mechanics of Free Particles
	7.8 Particles in Potentials
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
8 Thermodynamics II: Entropy and Temperature
	8.1 Introduction to Entropy and the Second Law
	8.2 Information Entropy
	8.3 Thermodynamic Entropy
	8.4 Thermal Equilibrium and Temperature
	8.5 Limit to Efficiency
	8.6 The Boltzmann Distribution
	8.7 The Partition Function and Simple Thermodynamic Systems
	8.8 Spontaneous Processes and Free Energy
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
9 Energy in Matter
	9.1 Energy, Temperature, and the Spectrum of Electromagnetic Radiation
	9.2 A Tour of the Internal Energy of Matter I: From Ice to Vapor
	9.3 A Tour of the Internal Energy of Matter II: Molecular Vibrations, Dissociation, and Binding Energies
	9.4 Internal Energy, Enthalpy, and Free Energy in Chemical Reactions
	9.5 Chemical Thermodynamics: Examples
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
10 Thermal Energy Conversion
	10.1 Thermodynamic Variables, Idealizations, and Representations
	10.2 Thermodynamic Processes in Gas Phase Engines
	10.3 Carnot Engine
	10.4 Stirling Engine
	10.5 Limitations to Efficiency of Real Engines
	10.6 Heat Extraction Devices: Refrigerators and Heat Pumps
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
11 Internal Combustion Engines
	11.1 Spark Ignition Engines and the Otto Cycle
	11.2 Combustion and Fuels
	11.3 Real Spark Ignition Engines
	11.4 Other Internal Combustion Cycles
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
12 Phase-change Energy Conversion
	12.1 Advantages of Phase Change in Energy Conversion Cycles
	12.2 Phase Change in Pure Substances
	12.3 The Real World: Engineering Nomenclature and Practical Calculations
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
13 Thermal Power and Heat Extraction Cycles
	13.1 Thermodynamics with Flowing Fluids
	13.2 Heat Extraction and the Vapor-compression Cycle
	13.3 The Rankine Steam Cycle
	13.4 Low-temperature Organic Rankine Systems
	13.5 Gas Turbine and Combined Cycles
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
Part II Energy Sources
14 The Forces of Nature
	14.1 Forces, Energies, and Distance Scales
	14.2 Elementary Particles
	14.3 The Weak Interactions and β-decay
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
15 Quantum Phenomena in Energy Systems
	15.1 Decays and Other Time-dependent Quantum Processes
	15.2 The Origins of Tunneling
	15.3 Barrier Penetration
	15.4 Tunneling Lifetimes
	15.5 The Pauli Exclusion Principle
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
16 An Overview of Nuclear Power
	16.1 Overview
	16.2 Nuclear Fission Fuel Resources
	16.3 The Following Chapters
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
17 Structure, Properties, and Decays of Nuclei
	17.1 Basic Nuclear Properties
	17.2 The Semi-empirical Mass Formula
	17.3 Nuclear Binding Systematics
	17.4 Nuclear Decays
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
18 Nuclear Energy Processes: Fission and Fusion
	18.1 Comparing Fission and Fusion
	18.2 Cross Sections
	18.3 Physics of Nuclear Fission
	18.4 Physics of Nuclear Fusion
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
19 Nuclear Fission Reactors and Nuclear Fusion Experiments
	19.1 Nuclear Fission Reactor Dynamics
	19.2 Physics Issues Affecting Fission Reactor Operation and Safety
	19.3 Breeding and Fission Reactors
	19.4 Fission Reactor Design: Past, Present, and Future
	19.5 Nuclear Reactor Power Cycles
	19.6 Experiments in Thermonuclear Fusion
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
20 Ionizing Radiation
	20.1 Forms of Ionizing Radiation: An Overview
	20.2 Interactions of Radiation with Matter
	20.3 Measures of Radiation
	20.4 Biological Effects of Radiation
	20.5 Radiation in the Human Environment
	20.6 Nuclear Waste and Nuclear Proliferation
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
21 Energy in the Universe
	21.1 What is Energy?
	21.2 A Brief History of Energy in the Universe
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
22 Solar Energy: Solar Production and Radiation
	22.1 Nuclear Source of Solar Energy
	22.2 Blackbody Radiation and Solar Radiation
	22.3 Derivation of the Blackbody Radiation Formula
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
23 Solar Energy: Solar Radiation on Earth
	23.1 Insolation and the Solar Constant
	23.2 Earth’s Orbit
	23.3 Variation of Insolation
	23.4 Interaction of Light with Matter
	23.5 Atmospheric Absorption
	23.6 Extent of Resource
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
24 Solar Thermal Energy
	24.1 Solar Absorption and Radiation Balance
	24.2 Low-temperature Solar Collectors
	24.3 Concentrators
	24.4 Solar Thermal Electricity (STE)
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
25 Photovoltaic Solar Cells
	25.1 Introductory Aspects of Solid-state Physics
	25.2 Quantum Mechanics on a Lattice
	25.3 Electrons in Solids and Semiconductors
	25.4 The PV Concept and a Limit on Collection Efficiency
	25.5 Band Structure of Silicon
	25.6 p-n Junctions
	25.7 The p-n Junction as a Photodiode
	25.8 Silicon Solar Cells
	25.9 Advanced Solar Cells
	25.10 Global Use of Photovoltaics
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
26 Biological Energy
	26.1 Energy and Photosynthesis
	26.2 Food Energy
	26.3 Biomass
	26.4 Biofuels
	26.5 The Future of Bioenergy
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
27 Ocean Energy Flow
	27.1 Oceanic Energy Balance and Transport
	27.2 Coriolis Force
	27.3 Surface Currents
	27.4 Atmospheric Circulation
	27.5 Ocean Circulation
	27.6 Ocean Thermal Resources and Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
28 Wind: A Highly Variable Resource
	28.1 The Nature of the Wind
	28.2 Characterization of a Wind Resource
	28.3 The Potential of Wind Energy
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
29 Fluids: The Basics
	29.1 Defining Characteristics of a Fluid
	29.2 Simplifying Assumptions and Conservation Laws
	29.3 Viscosity
	29.4 Lift
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
30 Wind Turbines
	30.1 Axial-momentum Theory and Betz’s Limit
	30.2 Turbine Blades and Power
	30.3 Some Design Considerations
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
31 Energy from Moving Water: Hydro, Wave, Tidal, and Marine Current Power
	31.1 Hydropower
	31.2 Wave Power
	31.3 Tidal Power
	31.4 Marine Current Energy
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
32 Geothermal Energy
	32.1 Thermal Energy in Earth’s Interior
	32.2 Geothermal Energy Resources
	32.3 Ground Source Heat Pumps
	32.4 Hydrothermal Energy
	32.5 Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)
	32.6 Magnitude of Geothermal Resources
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
33 Fossil Fuels
	33.1 Coal
	33.2 Petroleum
	33.3 Natural Gas
	33.4 Hydrocarbon Conversion
	33.5 Fossil Fuel Summary
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
Part III Energy System Issues and Externalities
34 Energy and Climate
	34.1 Albedo and the Greenhouse Effect
	34.2 Atmospheric Physics
	34.3 Global Energy Flow
	34.4 CO2 and the Carbon Cycle
	34.5 Feedbacks and Climate Modeling
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
35 Earth’s Climate: Past, Present, and Future
	35.1 Past Climate
	35.2 Predicting Future Climate
	35.3 Effects of Climate Change
	35.4 Mitigation and Adaptation
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
36 Energy Efficiency, Conservation, and Changing Energy Sources
	36.1 First Law Efficiency
	36.2 Second Law Efficiency
	36.3 Example: The Efficiency of Space Heating
	36.4 Exergy
	36.5 Efficiency and Conservation Case Studies
	36.6 Energy Systems: Scales and Transformations
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
37 Energy Storage
	37.1 Performance Criteria for Energy Storage
	37.2 Grid-scale Storage
	37.3 Mobile Energy Storage
	37.4 Other Energy Storage Systems
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
38 Electricity Generation and Transmission
	38.1 Overview of Electric Grids
	38.2 LRC Circuits
	38.3 Grid-scale Electricity Generation
	38.4 Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power
	38.5 Renewables: Variable and Distributed Energy Resources
	Discussion/Investigation Questions
	Problems
Appendix A Notation
Appendix B Some Basic Mathematics
Appendix C Units and Fundamental Constants
Appendix D Data
References
Index