Physics 207
Energy and Climate
Change
Instructor:DanielHolland
 Email:holland@phy.ilstu.edu
 Web page:


http://www.phy.ilstu.edu/%7Eholland/phy207.html
Office:Moulton 313C or Hovey 408
 Phone:438-3243 or 438-8736
 Office Hours 11-12 TR or by appointment
 Course Times: TR 935-1050A in MLT 210
 Optional Text: Wolfson:Energy,

Environment and Climate
Other Books:
Ristinen and Kraushaar, Energy and the Environment Overall a
very nice book, but not as detailed as
Hinrichs and Kleinbach. I have used this book in the past.
Priest, Energy, Principles, Problems, AlternativesAnother very
nice but fairly elementary book. We used it in the old Physics 100
course.
Schobert, Energy and SocietyA really nice book that seems to
cover the material from a historical perspective.
Gonick and Huffman The Cartoon Guide to Physics Nice review of
basic physics in comic book form. The physics is excellent and
easy to understand.




COURSE GRADING:
As an incentive to actually come to class, we will be using
the Turning Point clicker system. You will get classroom
participation points for answering the questions. You get
2 points for having your clicker in class and actually
answering the questions. If you forgot your clicker on a
given day, I have a sign up sheet for after class and you
will get 1 point for that day.
You will also have weekly homework assignments that are
to be turned in on Thursday. The assignments will be
posted on the web page for the course. Solutions to the
homework will be posted after the due date.
You will write a 5-7 page research paper dealing with a
topic related to class material. The goal is to synthesize
the material and defend (or not) the idea. Some
suggestions would be hydraulic fracking, wind energy,
clean coal energy, oil from tar sand, mountain top
removal, nuclear energy, etc.

There will be three hour long exams (including
the non-comprehensive final exam).
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–
–
–
–

Hour Exams (3at 23%)
Classroom participation
Homework
Paper
Total
65%
10%
15%
10%
100%
A typical exam will test for both conceptual
understanding and problem solving ability. They
WILL NOT be scantron exams. Make-up exams
will only be given in cases of excused absences
due to illness, serious illness or death in your
immediate family, or other significant reasons.

Letter grades are not assigned on an
individual exam, but will be determined at the
end of the course when all scores are in. There
are no hard and fast letter grade boundaries (i.e.
I do not grade on a strict percentage basis) nor is
there a statistical formula used to determine
grade boundaries (i.e. I do not grade on a
curve). Instead, statistics are used as a guide to
determine underlying standards. When needed,
factors such as class participation, improvement,
industriousness, etc. may be used in borderline
cases. Statistics will be given on each exam so
that you may estimate where you stand in
relation to the rest of the class.
General Comments
I really like question and or discussion in
class.
 I am always happy to shift directions
provided that we stay within the area of
energy.
 Provided that I am around, I am always
willing to talk with you outside of class.

Clicker Information

http://clickers.illinoisstate.edu/students/in
dex.htm
Why are you taking this course
1.
2.
3.
4.
Required for major
Interested in the
subject
Need an Outer
Core Gen Ed class
and this fits my
schedule
Other
0%
1
0%
2
0%
3
0%
4
What is the highest level of
Math you have taken?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Algebra 1
Algebra 2
Trigonometry
Pre-calculus
Calculus
Other
0%
0%
1
2
0%
0%
0%
0%
3
4
5
6
Have you ever taken a physics
course before?
1.
2.
Yes
No
0%
1
0%
2
What do you believe is true
about climate change
1.
2.
3.
It is not really
happening.
It is happening,
but it is a natural
process
It is happening
and the major
driver is human
activity
0%
1
0%
2
0%
3
Should the government
subsidize any type of energy?
1.
2.
Yes
No
0%
1
0%
2
What is your opinion about
nuclear power?
We should eliminate
all nuclear reactors
and never build
more.
2. We are using about
the right amount of
nuclear power now
3. We should build
more nuclear plants
ASAP
1.
0%
1
0%
2
0%
3
Did you have a different opinion
before the problems in Japan?
1.
2.
Yes
No
50%
1
50%
2
What is your opinion about
using coal in the US.
1.
2.
3.
It is a highly polluting
energy source and its
should be minimized.
The US has a lot of coal
and should exploit it to
the fullest extent
possible to reduce our
reliance on foreign
energy.
It is one of many source
of energy in a balanced
approach to meeting our
needs.
33%
1
33%
2
33%
3
What do you think about wind power?
We should supply as
much of the US
energy as possible
using wind power.
2. We should supply no
more than 10-20% of
the US power using
wind
3. Wind will never make
a large contribution
to the US energy
needs
1.
0%
1
0%
2
0%
3
What do you think about alcohol
as a fuel?
1.
2.
3.
4.
You barely get as much
energy out as you use to
create it so why bother?
It is a great, low
pollution form of fuel so
we should use more.
The disruption it causes
to the global food market
make it untenable.
Other.
0%
1
0%
2
0%
3
0%
4
What do you think about
hydrolic fracking?
1.
2.
3.
It is a good thing that
reduces our dependence
on foreign energy and
reduces greenhouse
emissions
It is a terrible thing that
causes birth defects and
huge amounts of
pollution.
Undecided
0%
1
0%
2
0%
3
What do you think about the comment: “All
citizens of the world should be allowed to
use as much energy as they can pay for.”
1. I agree
2. I disagree
3. I abstain
0%
1
0%
2
0%
3
Should you be allowed to install any type of
alternative energy production devices on
you property? (e.g. solar cells, wind
turbines, methane generator.)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Yes
No
It really depends
on the device.
Abstain
0%
1
0%
2
0%
3
0%
4
Environmental issues should take precedent
over development of potential energy
resources.
1. I agree
2. I disagree
3. Abstain
0%
1
0%
2
0%
3
All citizens of the world should have the right to
own and operate as many cars and trucks as they
can afford, regardless of their fuel efficiency
33%
1.
2.
3.
33%
33%
Yes
No
Abstain
1
2
3