The Physics of EnergyThe 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. |
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Contents
Introduction | 3 |
Mechanical Energy | 11 |
Electromagnetic Energy | 27 |
Waves and Light | 56 |
Heat and Thermal Energy | 69 |
Heat Transfer | 88 |
Introduction to Quantum Physics | 109 |
Entropy and Temperature | 136 |
Solar Production and Radiation | 422 |
Solar Radiation on Earth | 432 |
Solar Thermal Energy | 446 |
Photovoltaic Solar Cells | 465 |
Biological Energy | 494 |
Ocean Energy Flow | 514 |
A Highly Variable Resource | 531 |
The Basics | 556 |
Energy in Matter | 162 |
Thermal Energy Conversion | 183 |
Internal Combustion Engines | 203 |
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 |
Fission and Fusion | 323 |
Nuclear Fission Reactors and Nuclear Fusion Experiments | 342 |
Ionizing Radiation | 372 |
Energy in the Universe | 404 |
Wind Turbines | 577 |
Hydro Wave Tidal and Marine Current Power | 591 |
Geothermal Energy | 620 |
Fossil Fuels | 645 |
Energy and Climate | 681 |
Past Present and Future | 709 |
Energy Efficiency Conservation and Changing Energy Sources | 741 |
Energy Storage | 775 |
Electricity Generation and Transmission | 800 |
Appendix A Notation | 830 |
Units and Fundamental Constants | 842 |
857 | |
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Common terms and phrases
absorbed approximation atmosphere atoms average band gap Carnot Carnot limit cells chapter charge combustion compression compute conservation constant convection Coriolis force decay described dose Earth’s surface effects efficiency electric electromagnetic electron emitted engine enthalpy entropy equation equilibrium estimate ethanol example factor fission flow fluid flux force fraction frequency fuel function fusion geothermal heat capacity heat transfer ideal gas increases interactions kinetic energy liquid magnetic field mass material molecules momentum motion neutrons nuclear nuclear fission nuclei nuclides ocean oscillator particle phase physics potential energy pressure Problem produced protons quantum mechanics quarks radiation radiative radioactive Rankine cycle ratio reaction reactor relatively rotation roughly Schrödinger equation shown in Figure solar energy steam Stirling engines temperature thermal energy thermodynamic tidal tion unit uranium vapor vector velocity volume wave wavefunction wind power wind speed wind turbine