Course Description
Energy is of paramount importance to civilization and has been for centuries, although never more than the present day. Much of the things we value and rely on ¿ food, automobiles, air travel, heating and air conditioning ¿all depend on access to inexpensive sources of energy. Wars have been fought over sources of energy. But what is energy? Is it inexhaustible, or will inexpensive sources of energy disappear in our lifetimes? Will our thirst for energy inevitably lead to climate change and global warming? Physics 1110 intended to address these issues. Structured to be accessible to non-science majors, this course includes such topics as the physical nature of energy, the ways in which we produce and consume energy in our society, and how the opportunities energy provides, and the threats that may occur, will play into our future.
