8.21 The Physics of Energy, Fall 2008

Jaffe, Robert L.; Taylor, Washington

Author(s)

Jaffe, Robert L.; Taylor, Washington

Download8-21Fall-2008/OcwWeb/Physics/8-21Fall-2008/CourseHome/index.htm (13.78Kb)

Alternative title

The Physics of Energy

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Abstract

This course is designed to give you the scientific understanding you need to answer questions like - How much energy can we really get from wind? - How does a solar photovoltaic work? - What is an OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Converter) and how does it work? - What is the physics behind global warming? - What makes engines efficient? - How does a nuclear reactor work, and what are the realistic hazards? The course is designed for MIT sophomores, juniors, and seniors who want to understand the fundamental laws and physical processes that govern the sources, extraction, transmission, storage, degradation, and end uses of energy. Special note about this course: The Physics of Energy is a new subject at MIT, offered for the first time in the Fall of 2008. The materials for the course, as such, are not yet ready for wider distribution. However, given the relevance of this topic worldwide, OCW is presenting a basic version of the course now to provide insight into how this subject is being developed at MIT. We expect to add more content after it is taught again in the Fall of 2009.

Date issued

2008-12

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53414

Department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics

Other identifiers

8.21-Fall2008

local: 8.21

local: IMSCP-MD5-d2b2ae1be5dc706ddec34568206468a6

Keywords

energy, solar energy, wind energy, nuclear energy, biological energy sources, thermal energy, eothermal power, ocean thermal energy conversion, hydro power, climate change, energy storage, energy conservation, nuclear radiation, solar photovoltaic, OTEC, nuclear reactor

Collections

MIT OCW Archived Courses