The Physics of Energy

Robert L. Jaffe, Washington Taylor

Cambridge University Press, Jan 25, 2018 - Science - 874 pages

The Physics of Energy provides a comprehensive and systematic introduction to the scientific principles governing energy sources, uses, and systems. This definitive textbook traces the flow of energy from sources such as solar power, nuclear power, wind power, water power, and fossil fuels through its transformation in devices such as heat engines and electrical generators, to its uses including transportation, heating, cooling, and other applications. The flow of energy through the Earth's atmosphere and oceans, and systems issues including storage, electric grids, and efficiency and conservation are presented in a scientific context along with topics such as radiation from nuclear power and climate change from the use of fossil fuels. Students, scientists, engineers, energy industry professionals, and concerned citizens with some mathematical and scientific background who wish to understand energy systems and issues quantitatively will find this textbook of great interest.

Contents

• Introduction: 3
• DiscussionInvestigation Questions: 9
• DiscussionInvestigation Questions: 24
• DiscussionInvestigation Questions: 53
• 4: 60
• DiscussionInvestigation Questions: 67
• Problems: 86
• 4: 92
• Problems: 102
• Introduction to Quantum Physics: 109
• 8: 115
• DiscussionInvestigation Questions: 133
• DiscussionInvestigation Questions: 160
• DiscussionInvestigation Questions: 180
• 10: 183
• DiscussionInvestigation Questions: 201
• Internal Combustion Engines: 203
• 45: 217
• Phasechange Energy Conversion: 219
• Thermal Power and Heat Extraction Cycles: 235
• The Forces of Nature: 263
• Quantum Phenomena in Energy Systems: 279
• An Overview of Nuclear Power: 291
• Structure Properties and Decays of Nuclei: 299
• 19: 323
• 48: 367
• 1: 372
• 77: 395
• 56: 402
• 1: 404
• Insolation and the Solar Constant: 432
• 1: 446
• 78: 451
• Photovoltaic Solar Cells: 465
• Biological Energy: 494
• Ocean Energy Flow: 514
• A Highly Variable Resource: 531
• The Basics: 556
• Wind Turbines: 577
• Hydro Wave Tidal and Marine Current Power: 591
• 1: 620
• 1: 645
• Problems: 656
• DiscussionInvestigation Questions: 677
• DiscussionInvestigation Questions: 707
• 3: 725
• 4: 736
• 2: 743
• 5: 755
• DiscussionInvestigation Questions: 771
• DiscussionInvestigation Questions: 797
• Electricity Generation and Transmission: 800
• Appendix A Notation: 830
• Units and Fundamental Constants: 842
• 729: 867

About the author

Robert L. Jaffe holds the Morningstar Chair in the Department of Physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He was formerly director of MIT's Center for Theoretical Physics and recently chaired the American Physical Society's Panel on Public Affairs. Jaffe is best known for his research on the quark substructure of the proton and other strongly interacting particles, on exotic states of matter, and on the quantum structure of the vacuum. He received his B.A. from Princeton and his Ph.D. from Stanford. In recognition of his contributions to teaching and course development at MIT, Jaffe has received numerous awards including a prestigious MacVicar Fellowship. Jaffe is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Washington Taylor is a Professor of Physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and is currently the Director of MIT's Center for Theoretical Physics. Taylor's research is focused on basic theoretical questions of particle physics and gravity. Taylor has made contributions to our understanding of fundamental aspects of string theory and its set of solutions, including connections to constraints on low-energy field theory and observable physics and to new results in mathematics. Taylor received his B.A. in mathematics from Stanford and his Ph.D. in physics from University of California, Berkeley. Among other honors, Taylor has been an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow and a Department of Energy Outstanding Junior Investigator, and has received MIT's Buechner faculty teaching prize.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Physics of Energy
• Authors: Robert L. Jaffe, Washington Taylor
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2018
• ISBN: 1107016657, 9781107016651
• Length: 874 pages
• Subjects: Science / Applied Sciences; Science / Energy; Science / Physics / General; Technology & Engineering / Engineering (General); Technology & Engineering / Power Resources / General