Faculty First Year Seminars 197PHY2 - What?s Watt?
Fall
2014
01
1.00
John Dubach
M 1:25PM 2:15PM
UMass Amherst
79702
The intent of the course is to enable them to better understand energy-related issues at the local, national, and global levels both in terms of the technical side but also the economic and policy influences and implications.
The first two or three meetings would be ?lecture? on the basic physics concepts and practical concerns behind energy production and usage. The remainder of the course would consist of the students, individually or in groups, analyzing and presenting their analysis of energy issues of their own choosing or my suggestion ranging anywhere from, e.g., comparison of different types of light bulbs, to hybrid/electric vehicles, to potential for energy production worldwide. Clarity of the assumptions that enter and documentation of facts that support the analysis will be emphasized.
The first two or three meetings would be ?lecture? on the basic physics concepts and practical concerns behind energy production and usage. The remainder of the course would consist of the students, individually or in groups, analyzing and presenting their analysis of energy issues of their own choosing or my suggestion ranging anywhere from, e.g., comparison of different types of light bulbs, to hybrid/electric vehicles, to potential for energy production worldwide. Clarity of the assumptions that enter and documentation of facts that support the analysis will be emphasized.
Freshmen Only