Physics 360
Environmental Physics
Spring 2009
Instructor:
Prof. Andy Layden
Class Schedule: MWF 2:30–3:20 pm in 184 Overman Hall
Course Website: http://physics.bgsu.edu/~layden/p360.htm
Text:
Energy and Its Use in the Environment, Hinrichs & Kleinbach (2006)
Office:
112 Overman Hall, 372-8653, laydena@bgsu.edu
Office Hours:
MWF 3:30-4:20, TR 1:30-2:20, or by appointment.
Overview: This course focuses on applications of physics principles to problems in the natural
world. The main theme will be energy; how do humans extract energy from our environment to
power our society, and what ramifications does this process have on the natural environment?
We will study the physics of motion and energy in the context of vehicle fuel efficiency; heat
flow and building insulation; sunlight and solar space and hot water heating; electricity in simple
circuits, fuel cells, solar photovoltaics, electric motors, and long-distance transmission;
alternative energy such as wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal sources; and nuclear physics in
the context of fission power plants, radioactivity, and nuclear fusion. We may also discuss
energy flow and global climate modeling (climate change prediction). At each step we will
identify environmental, governmental, and financial policy issues and relate them to the physics
of energy. Students will learn and practice basic physics calculations to support their arguments
and make quantitative assessments of the concepts under study. We will emphasize energy both
on a large scale, appropriate to local, regional and national energy policy issues, and on a
personal scale appropriate to improving your energy efficiency and carbon footprint.
Learning Outcomes: Students completing this course successfully will be able to:
(1) Describe, identify and use the physics principles associated with different means of
energy extraction, conversion, and use;
(2) Perform algebra-level calculations that support and confirm physical concepts or make
quantitative predictions or assessments;
(3) Discuss in detail, using proper terminology, the physical limitations on, and strengths and
weaknesses of, the different means of extracting energy;
(4) Work effectively in a diverse group to solve complex problems and interpret results.
Grading:
• Activities (1-2 per week)
• Group Projects (likely 3)
• Three Hour Exams
• One comprehensive Final Exam
26% of final grade
21% of final grade (7% each)
33% of final grade (11% each)
20% of final grade
Reading from the textbook will be assigned on a weekly basis. In class, we will discuss and
expand on the reading. Doing the reading promptly ensures you will be prepared for
discussions, activities, and new material.
Activities are designed to help you get a better hands-on and/or mathematical feel for the
concepts you have read about. Some will be discussion-oriented and may involve sharing
opinions or designing an experiment, while others will be more calculation-oriented. Generally,
we will start them in class where they can be done in small groups; you will complete them at
home and turn them in the following class meeting. Late activities will be charged 10% penalty
per class meeting late, and generally will not be accepted after two class meetings from the due
date, when the answers will be posted online (if you have a legitimate excuse, contact Andy
ASAP for an extension). Each activity will be graded on a 0-20 scale, and the sum of your
activity scores will be converted to a percentage of possible points and weighted into your final
grade as described on page 1.
Practice Questions will be distributed occasionally to provide additional practice on
calculations presented in activities. They will allow you to see a type of question in multiple
contexts using different data, allowing you to master that type of problem before an exam. The
practice questions will not be graded, but answers to the questions will be posted online, and you
can ask questions about them during office hours or in class.
Group Projects will extend the basic calculations and discussions done in Activities into more
complex and realistic situations. Groups composed of about 5 students will combine their
diverse talents to solve about three projects over the semester.
Hour and Final Exams will be a mixture of multiple choice, short-answer, and essay questions.
They will include calculation problems similar to the ones done in activities and practice
questions. The final exam will be comprehensive.
Bring your calculator to every class. It should be able to do scientific (exponential) notation
and square roots [e.g., TI-30Xa or Sharp EL-506VB, $12 at the Union Bookstore]. Calculators
on cell phones or other communications devices cannot be used during exams.
Accessing your Grades: After most major assignments are graded, I will send an email
indicating that new grades are available and how I have calculated your current standing in the
course. You can check your own grades at any time using myBGSU as follows:
1) Point your web browser to “my.bgsu.edu” and enter your email and password, then “Log-In.”
2) Click on the “Environmental Physics” link in the “My Blackboard Courses” section.
3) Click the “Tools” link on the left and select “My Grades.” Your grades should appear.
• If you have trouble with these steps or think a grade is incorrectly reported, please contact me.
• It will take me a few days after an assignment is due to get the grades posted, please be patient.
Important Dates:
• Mon Jan 12 -- First day of class
• Mon Jan 19 – Martin Luther King Day, no classes
• Wed Feb 11 -- First Hour Exam (date subject to change)
• Wed Mar 4 -- Second Hour Exam (date subject to change)
• Mon Mar 9 through Fri Mar 13 -- Spring Break, no classes
• Fri Apr 10 -- Third Hour Exam (date subject to change)
• Fri May 1 -- Last day of class
• Wed May 6 -- Final Exam, 3:30-5:30 pm in our classroom
Rough Calendar:
Week Chapter
Topics
1
2
3&4
1
2
3
5
6
7
Exam #1
4
Heat and work, temperature, heat transfer & laws of thermodynamics
5
Heat transfer & conserving energy in the home via insulation
6
Sunlight & solar heating the home
8
Exam #2
10
Electricity, Ohm's Law, circuits, batteries & fuel cells
9
10
Spring Break
11
Electromagnetism, generation & transmission of electricity
12
Electricity from solar photovoltaics, wind turbines & hydroelectrics
11
12
13
14
Introduction, energy use statistics, exponential growth & resource depletion
Forms of energy, motion, energy, work & power
Conservation of energy, conversion examples & efficiencies
Exam #3
13
Atomic & nuclear structure & nuclear reactions
14
Nuclear fission, reactors & risk assessment
15 & 16 Radiation, doses, biological effects, detection & protection, nuclear fusion
9 & 19 Climate models/predictions & conclusions