PHY305:SolarEnergyScienceandArchitectures.
Syllabus,Fall2013.
Introduction
There’s more than enough solar energy hitting the earth to power our civilizations. Solar energy is both a very old subject (prehistoric architecture shows knowledge of the sun and sensitivity to its effects) and an exciting subject that involves the latest scientific ideas (nanostructured and plastic electronic materials could be the breakthroughs needed for inexpensive solar electricity). Using solar energy economically will require scientific, engineering, and political progress. The possibility that using coal and natural gas for energy is causing global climate change gives urgency to solving the problems. In the course, we’ll be examining the architectures that harness solar energy and the underlying science that governs the architectures. I use the plural term “architectures” because there are many different types of architecture involved and several different contexts. Devices such as solar cells have an internal architecture that we’ll be studying. When we actually use solar cells, we may want to integrate them into buildings as shingles or windows instead of bolting them to frames. We’ll be studying both aspects of solar energy in this course. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Course details ................................................................................................................................................ 2 In‐class experiments ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Homework assignments ................................................................................................................................ 2 Grading policies & exam Dates ..................................................................................................................... 3 Calendar & Plan............................................................................................................................................. 5 Learning outcomes ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Additional information and notices .............................................................................................................. 3 Academic integrity .................................................................................................................................... 3 Disability accommodation ........................................................................................................................ 3 Religious Observance ................................................................................................................................ 4 PHY305–Fall2013Syllabus
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Coursedetails
Instructor: Eric A. Schiff, Professor of Physics. Office: 219 Physics Bldg.. e‐mail: easchiff@syr.edu Telephone: 315‐443‐3908. Office hours: Mondays, 11:30 AM ‐ 12:30 PM; you can also drop by at your convenience, or make a specific appointment. Lecture times: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:00 – 6:20 PM, 104N Physics Bldg.. Textbook: David MacKay, Sustainable Energy: Without the Hot Air (UIT Cambridge, Ltd., 2009). Purchase of this book is not strictly necessary, since Prof. MacKay has generously made an online version of his text available for education use through the website withouthotair.com . I recommend that you purchase it anyway; it’s about the best deal on a textbook that you’re going to find, and copies are available at the Syracuse University Bookstore. Midterm exam: Thursday, October 10, 2013. You’ll have the entire class period on that day. Final exam: 5:15 PM – 7:15 PM, Tuesday, December 10, 2013. Room 104N (our regular classroom). Credits: 3 Co‐requisite: You must be enrolled in a calculus class (any will do), or have previously completed a calculus class. The course doesn’t assume any particular prior knowledge of science, but a background in high school chemistry and physics does make it easier. Liberal Arts Core: This course can be used to satisfy the “Divisional Perspectives” requirement in Science of the Liberal Arts Core. The course has sufficient laboratory content that you can petition to have it counted as a laboratory‐based course for this requirement; please consult the instructor if you are planning to file the petition. Blackboard: Course information is being posted at Syracuse University’s blackboard website http://blackboard.syr.edu/ In‐classexperiments
We’ll be doing short experiments during some class meetings. These will be announced in advance. It won’t usually be possible to make up a missed experiment. One experiment can be missed without penalty; see the grading policies below. Homeworkassignments
There will be 12 homework assignments during the semester. These are due in class on Tuesdays, and will be reviewed at the beginning of the class. The class will be divided into groups of 3 students; each group will be assigned one of the homework problems for presentation to the entire class. Collaboration on homework: You are encouraged to collaborate on homework assignments and projects. When you collaborate with others, you must still turn in work that you have written up yourself (not a copy of someone else’s homework), and you must give the name of your collaborator(s). PHY305–Fall2013Syllabus
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In‐class corrections: An unusual aspect of the class: you may make corrections to your homework solutions during the class. You must use a colored ink pen so that the grader can distinguish your corrections from the work you did at home. Sources and references: Please make a point of always indicating your sources and references that you’ve used for homework assignments, course projects, etc.. Gradingpolicies&examDates
Grades for this class will be posted on Blackboard. Please check your grades occasionally, and let me know if you discover an error. 1. (40 %) Weekly homework, in‐class experiments, and an independent research project and presentation due near the end of the semester. 2. (30%) Midterm exam: in‐class on Thursday, October 10, 2013. 3. (30%) Final examination: 5:15 – 7:15 PM, Tuesday, December 10, 2013 in our usual classroom, 104N Physics. Late homework: Homework is accepted late. If you are ill or have a family emergency, please indicate this when you turn in the assignment. Unexcused lateness will be penalized by reduction of 1 grades (generally, from an “A” to a “B”); this is because homework solutions will be discussed in class, typically on the date that the assignment is due. Missed experiments: You can miss one in‐class experiment without penalty; this opportunity should be reserved for days when you have a religious holiday, when you’re ill, or when you have an emergency. If you miss more than one experiment for these reasons, please consult the instructor. Missed examinations: If you need to miss an examination, please contact the instructor as soon as possible to make alternate arrangements. Additionalinformationandnotices
Academicintegrity
The Syracuse University Academic Integrity Policy holds students accountable for the integrity of the work they submit. Students should be familiar with the Policy and know that it is their responsibility to learn about instructor and general academic expectations with regard to proper citation of sources in written work. The policy also governs the integrity of work submitted in exams and assignments as well as the veracity of signatures on attendance sheets and other verifications of participation in class activities. Serious sanctions can result from academic dishonesty of any sort. For more information and the complete policy, see http://academicintegrity.syr.edu. Disabilityaccommodation
Students who are in need of disability‐related academic accommodations must register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS), 804 University Avenue, Room 309, 315‐443‐4498. Students with authorized disability‐related accommodations should provide a current Accommodation Authorization Letter from ODS to the instructor and review those accommodations with the instructor. Accommodations, such as PHY305–Fall2013Syllabus
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exam administration, are not provided retroactively; therefore, planning for accommodations as early as possible is necessary. For further information, see the ODS website, Office of Disability Services http://disabilityservices.syr.edu/ ReligiousObservance
Under Syracuse University’s religious observance policy, students are provided an opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirements that may be missed due to a religious observance provided they notify their instructors before the end of the second week of classes. For fall and spring semesters, an online notification process is available through the myslice.syr.edu website (Student Services/Enrollment/My Religious Observances) from the first day of class until the end of the second week of class). In PHY 305, if the midterm or the final examination conflicts with a religious observance, you will be given an opportunity to take the examination at an alternate time; please use the myslice website to request this formally. Religious observance is an acceptable reason for handing in homework assignments late; please just indicate this when you turn in the assignment. SU’s present religious observances policy is reproduced at the webpage http://supolicies.syr.edu/emp_ben/religious_observance.htm. The policy recognizes the diversity of faiths represented among the campus community and protects the rights of students, faculty, and staff to observe religious holy days according to their tradition. Revised August 15, 2013. E. A. Schiff. PHY305–Fall2013Syllabus
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Calendar&Plan The date indicated in the table is the date of the Tuesday class in each week. Date 8/27 9/3 Subject Weekly topics Global energy usage and comparison with solar insolation. Introduction to energy and solar insolation Heat and solar energy. Heat pumps. Properties of solar thermal collectors. Building 9/10 Solar thermal collectors and the planetary integration. 9/17 greenhouse effect Infrared and solar spectra 9/24 A tale of 2 planets: Mars and Earth. Photons and work 10/1 Photons and the solar spectrum. 10/8 Review & exam Midterm exam on Thursday, 10/10 10/15 Solar cells Solar cells and their conversion efficiency 10/22 Photosynthesis and biofuels Photosynthesis and its conversion efficiency 10/29 Diurnal and seasonal effects on solar insolation. 11/5 Solar architecture Concentrating and building‐integrated photovoltaics 11/12 Design and performance of passive houses. 11/19 Solar economics Experience curves and the future of solar energy. 11/26 Thanksgiving holiday week Turkey. 12/3 Presentations & review Students' choices. Final exam Final exam is Tuesday, 12/10 (5:15 – 7:15 PM) Lab none Stirling engine as a heat pump Glazed and unglazed solar ovens Wavelengths and diffraction Greenhouse gases Voltaic cell ‐ Light‐emitting diodes/Planck const. Electrical work from a solar cell Sun and sky observing Solar cells and collecting optics Thermal transients and passive houses none none ‐ PHY305–Fall2013Syllabus
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Learningoutcomes
Students who complete this course successfully will be able to: …define energy and heat and explain the sources and uses of energy for heating, transportation, and electricity. …analyze solar insolation for differing seasons, latitudes, and times, and analyze solar space heating in buildings. …describe the character of light as an electromagnetic wave and as a flux of photons, and discuss the experiments that support these views. …explain the blackbody spectrum and its relation to the solar spectrum, planetary temperatures, and solar thermal collector efficiency. …analyze chemical batteries (voltaic cells) as sources of energy and as the origin for the definition of the Volt. …analyze plant photosynthesis as an application of solar energy for production of fuels. …explain the atmospheric greenhouse effect and perform an approximate calculation of its magnitude for a planet. …explain devices for solar water heating and describe their efficiencies. …explain the physical mechanism of semiconductor solar cells and the Shockley‐Queisser limit for their efficiency. …discuss building‐integration of solar energy technologies, including cost‐advantages, constraints, and esthetic issues. …discuss the costs of various solar energy conversion technologies, including the use of experience‐curves to estimate future costs. …conduct and present research on solar energy and related subjects based on published sources. PHY305–Fall2013Syllabus
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