Energy, Entropy, and Everything

Honors 1500, Perspectives in the Physical Sciences

Instructor: Daniel Schroeder, Physics Department, Weber State University

Course Documents:

• Syllabus
• Reference list
• Text handouts (pdf format): Chapters 1; 2

• Daily assignments: part 1, part 2, part 3
• First project assignment (due Friday, Feb. 2)
• Second project assignment (due Friday, March 9)
• Third project assignment (due Friday, April 20)
• Study Guide for First Test (pdf format)
• Graph of U.S. electrical generation by source: linear scale or log scale
• Map of major Western electrical generating plants (compiled from EIA data found here and here)

• U.S. Department of Energy
• U.S. Energy Information Administration (statistics on energy production and consumption in the U.S.)
  • Energy in the United States -- A Brief History and Current Trends
  • Energy data for Utah
• Renewable energy in Utah (from EREN, a division of DOE)
• Utah Office of Energy Services
• PacifiCorp is Utah's largest electric utility, and Questar is our largest natural gas supplier. Both of their web sites have useful maps and other information.
• BP Amoco Statistical Review of World Energy
• Consumer information:
  • EPA fuel economy ratings for cars
  • Sierra Club MPG calculator
  • Energy-Star products for the home
  • Airhead emissions calculator (calculate how much carbon dioxide and other air "pollution" you produce)
• Nonprofit organizations (mostly environmentally oriented):
  • Sierra Club
  • Environmental Defense
  • Union of Concerned Scientists
  • American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (good consumer information on efficient cars and appliances)
  • Land and Water Fund of the Rockies (promotes renewable energy in the Rocky Mountain region)
  • Renewable Northwest Project (promotes renewable energy in the northwestern states)
  • Rocky Mountain Institute (an ever-optimistic think-tank that promotes efficient use of resources)
• Concrete dams built and operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
• Nuclear power plants -- virtual tour
• For lots of good information on wind turbines, try the American Wind Energy Association or the Danish Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association.
• Here's some good information on geothermal energy and geothermal heat pumps.
• California electricity crisis coverage in the L.A. Times.
• Hypercar, Inc., is designing a futuristic SUV-sized car that gets the equivalent of 99 miles per gallon.
• Yahoo "Energy" directory