PHYS/ENVS 3070: Energy and the Environment, Fall 2008
Lectures: Prof. Jamie Nagle: MWF 10:00-10:50 am Duane G125
Phone: 303-735-3560 Office: F221 in the Gamow Tower
Email/Electronic Office Hours: Jamie.Nagle@Colorado.Edu (anytime)
Office Hours (tentative): Monday 1-2 pm, Wednesday 11 am - noon. And, any other times by appointment.
Course Website:
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys3070
Lots of additional information and updates will be posted there. Please check it periodically!
Contemporary issues in energy consumption and its environmental impact, including fossil fuel use and depletion; nuclear energy and waste disposal; solar, wind, hydroelectric, and other renewable sources; home heating; energy storage; fuel cells; and alternative transportation vehicles. Included are some basic physical concepts and principles that often constrain choices. No background in physics is required. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: natural science. Same as ENVS 3070.
Goals: Every good course needs specific goals. The course goals are for each of you to learn how to understand and analyze issues related to energy production and usage and its influence on the environment around us (both local and global). Additionally, an appreciation of the scientific method and the approach taken by physics is a goal for the course, such that one can read the New York Times science section, not be intimidated, and understand how the constant advance of science influences our society.
Textbooks: "Energy and the Environment (2nd Edition)", by Robert A. Ristinen and Jack J. Kraushaar (publisher John Wiley and Sons). There are no other required or recommended texts for this course. Additional reading material will be posted on the web page and downloadable in PDF format.
Prerequisites: Students should have a good working knowledge of algebra and not be afraid of learning a little math.
Participation and Clickers: In this class we will use remote transmitters to answer questions during lectures. You need to purchase an "iClicker" from the bookstore. Make sure to purchase the correct type of clicker (iClicker - Radio Frequency Classroom Response System). Your clicker responses are recorded and contribute to your final grade.
You can register your iClicker for all your classes at http://www.colorado.edu/its/cuclickers/students/register.html. If you have already registered your clicker in this system, it should also be registered for this class.
The clicker responses will start being recorded on Monday, September 08, 2008. You are allowed up to 5 missed lectures with no penalty.
Reading: Reading the textbook is an essential part of 3070! Reading the text before class is very important. I will assume you have done the required readings in advance. Reading assignments will be announced in class and appear on the web page for the upcoming class.
Homework:
There will be weekly homework assignments due on Wednesday at 5:00 pm in the wooden box in Duane 2B level just outside the physics help room (ask for directions if needed). The homework assignments will be posted each week on the web page.
Although you can work in groups, you must solve the problems yourself and write up not only the final answer but also show the work involved to get full credit.
Term Papers:
There will be two term papers assigned for this course. The due dates for these papers will be posted on the web page. The papers will be on assigned topics (with different topics for each student). The topic must be researched and then certain questions answered in detail with quantitative analysis. All references must be included and all written work in the paper must be your own or properly cited. Any example of plagarism will result in a failing score.
The papers are to be exactly four typed pages long (12 point font, double spaced). All references and possible figures or tables should be included at the end and are not counted as part of the four pages. Not conforming to this format will result in a returned paper.
Inquire/Inform Assignment: All students will be required to hand in (and actually send) two one-page "inquire/inform" assignments. These will be described in detail a couple of weeks into the semester, including deadlines. They might include sending in a Newspaper editorial, writing a Congressperson, touring a local energy facility and writing it up. The key is to use some scientific knowledge gained to make an informed comment, suggestion or action.
Extra Credit:
Periodically through the semester there will be short extra credit assignments announced in class and posted on the web page. There is no penalty for not completing these assignments.
Exams: There will be three (3) in class exams evenly spaced through the semester. The exact dates will be announced in class and on the web page. There is no final exam for this course. You must make sure you are in class on these exam dates as there will be no make up exams.
Grades: The grades will be determined as follows:
30% - Three in class exams (10% each)
35% - Two term papers (17.5% each)
10% - Two "Inquire/Inform" assignments (5% each)
10% - Weekly Homework Assignments
10% - iClicker scores (class response)
5% - Class participation
Students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities, please let me know early in the semester (1st two weeks) so that your academic needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Disability Services Office in Willard 322 (phone 303-492-8671). Students with religious obligations that conflict with the exam dates should contact me early in the semester so that accomadations can be made.
Any information in this syllabus is as accurate as is possible at the time of writing. Announcements about changes of any kind will be made in class, and posted on the web, and will take precedence over this syllabus. You are responsible for what is said in class, whether or not you are in attendance.
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