Always give references for all your answers.
Do this for Thurs Sept 10 (print the attachment out and bring to class)
1) Bring in an electric bill (electric and gas for many of us).
If you can bring in set of bills that show the progression of your use through the year. Or that show your use last summer vs this summer.
2) Find out where Con-Ed gets its energy from. Hydroelectric, coal, nuclear, wind etc
Find out where the source is - for hydroelectric is it from Niagara Falls or from Canada? Where are our coal plants located? etc
3) Come in prepared to see how your household fits into table 1. (What's the difference between the Mean and the Median; What's the standard deviation).
Hand this in Tues Sept 15
1) How many KWhours did you use last month. How many Joules (energy) did you use last month? What's your average power (watt) use last month?
(state what month you are doing this for).
2) What is the average amount of energy used: for people in the class; in America; and in NYC.
(give me a reference for the last 2 values).
Let me know the cost of your electricity and where you live.
CLARIFICATION AFTER CLASS
FOR YOUR GROUP
Give average and median for a dwelling and per person. How does your use compare.
3) Answer one of these questions - show your work.
How many kg of coal would be needed to fuel your home last month? (use the efficiency in the paper)
How many cubic meters of water would have to fall over Niagara fall (50 m high) (assume 100% efficiency)
4) Find a picture of the solar energy spectrum (this is the amount of radiation found at each wavelength). What is the wavelength where there is the maximum energy? What color is this?
5) Light comes into the earth from the sun and a certain amount is absorbed. How do greenhouse gases change the average, steady state temperature of the planet? (look your book).
6) Write a few sentences - what is your topic
First - if you have an energy source pick a major use for this energy (eg turning something into electricity, lighting, transport); If you have an energy use pick an important way to fuel this process (eg if you have people transport you could pick oil (but you could also pick batteries).
Now answer these questions for your fuel and your use (one of which I gave you and one of which you chose)
a) What kind of energy is stored in/generated by this fuel(chemical, nuclear, etc).
You energy is converted into what kind of energy when it is used (eg kinetic, biological etc)?
b) How important is your primary topic(the one I gave you) in everyday life today? Why/where is it important.
c) Find an article in the New York Times that discusses your topic.
For Thursday Sept 17 please read: Kolbert-1. I hope you like this!
As you read this think about ways in which there is positive feedback in global warming - where something changes as it gets warmer so that warming speeds up.
Homework for Tues Sept 22. SEND ANSWER BY EMAIL.
1) Ask the professor a question. This must be connected to the topic of the class & would be great if it is something that will move your thinking about your final paper topic.
2) Look at wikipedia for bkack body radiation. (There is an example for the temeperature of the earth if ther were no greenhouse gases near the bottom of this article.)
A is in m2.
If the Earth absorbs 235W/m2; the black body temperature where the energy in = energy out is 253K (-20C; -33F)
What would the energy need to be from the sun to keep the earth at our current average temperature of 288C?
Homework for Sept 29, 2009
Pick one of these articles or videos and
Briefly list 3 things that are interesting.
Briefly list 3 questions you have from reading/watching this.
you may read/watch something else you find that is interesting. keeping to the theme of the class. if you are not sure it will count ask me.
Refitted to Bury Emissions, Plant Draws AttentionRefitted to Bury Emissions, Plant Draws Attention
New York Times Sept 22, 2009
Hawaii Tries Green Tools in Remaking Power Grids New York Time Sept 14, 2009
Real Men Tax Gas New York Times Sept 20, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/opinion/16friedman.html (why photovoltaics is taking off in china)
Pick an article at http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/ again at the nytimes
Look at a Ted Talk
how about wireless electricity
or do a
search on ENERGY in the Ted site and you'll see lots of stuff
kolbert-2 kolbert-3 commoner-1 commoner-2 commoner-3
Or look at
Nova at PBS (Pick one of these)
Car of the Future
Fuel Cells
Saved by the sun