Energy and Society

Catalog description

This course examines the basic physical principles underlying various energy technologies and develops the quantitative skills necessary to evaluate these technologies. Students present their work in both written and oral form. The end goal of this course is to help students become citizens that have the requisite background and communication skills to intelligently participate in energy policy discussions and decisions. Topics typically include basic scientific literacy and notation, introductory physics (such as force, work, energy, power), circuit analysis, thermodynamics, various energy technologies (fossil fuels, nuclear power, solar, hydroelectric, etc.), and placing these technologies in a broader environmental, social, and economic context. This course includes an integrated laboratory in order to introduce basic laboratory skills. Prerequisite(s): MS 141 or MS 180 or MS 181 or MS 182 .