Physics H190, Spring 2012

Physics of Energy and Environment

When and where: Wednesdays 4-6 pm, 156 Dwinelle Hall

Format: One 2-hr lecture/seminar session per week (student participation strongly encouraged), bi-weekly homework assignments

Instructor: Professor Dmitry Budker

Office: 273 Birge, Labs: 203/207, 217, 219, 221, 230, 241, 245, 249 Birge
e-mail: budker AT Berkeley.edu
research group web page: http://budker.berkeley.edu/

Professor's Office hour: by appointment (send e-mail to setup), 273 Birge

Synopsis and goals of the course:
The course will dwell on the rich and complex physics (which we will attempt to make as simple as meaningfully possible) related to the thermal balance (or as some may say, lack thereof) of our planet, including the physics of radiative energy transfer, the greenhouse effect, the physics of clouds, ocean circulation, etc. We will also discuss the topics of energy production (OK, energy is conserved, but not all energy forms are equally useful), consumption, and distribution; whether human activity is a significant factor affecting the Earth's climate, and various other things of this sort. In the course, the students will learn many useful research skills, including how to make "back-of-the-envelope" estimates, how to effectively search for relevant information, how to judge technical validity of information, what to do when different experts are saying the opposite, and how to present science to a critical audience.

Required text: none

Recommended texts:

Physics for Future Presidents: The Science Behind the Headlines by Richard A. Muller
Environmental Physics. Sustainable Energy and Climate Change (Third Edition) by Egbert Boeker and Rienk van Grondelle
Sustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air by David J. C. MacKay; see also http://www.withouthotair.com/
Beyond Smoke and Mirrors: Climate Change and Energy in the 21st Century by Burton Richter
Nuclear Energy: Principles, Practices, and Prospects by David Bodansky
Many more sources will be recommended in due time. Please note that if I recommend a text, it does not necessarily mean I agree with the author(s) on everything they say! (For example, I diverge from Prof. Richter on several issues discussed in his book above.)

Grading policy: the grade will be based on the homework, participation, and oral presentation in class

Invaluable resource: questions on organizational aspects of the course may be directed to Ms. Claudia Trujillo of Physics Student Services

Newsflash!

Find out about the most recent Nobel Prizes in Physics!

Lecture Notes, Electronic Tutorials

Physics H190 Spring 2012 Selected Lecture Notes will be available on bspace

Homework

Assignment #1; due Feb. 1, 2012
Assignment #2; due Feb. 15, 2012
Assignment #3; due Feb. 29, 2012
Assignment #4; due March 14, 2012
Assignment #5; due before the last day of classes

Oral-presentation topics

Paleontological Perspectives on Climate Change by Alec Tewsley-Booth (Feb. 8)
"The Light-Bulb Wars:" the physics and economics behind the new-generation fluorescent vs. incandescent light bulbs by Geoffrey Iwata (Feb. 22)
Anomalously high per capita electricity consumption in Iceland by Gina Quan (March 21)
The physics behind sustainable fashion and environmental art by Rui Zhou (March 21)
Environmental effects of industrial farming by Dmitri Gaskin (April 4)
Missing matter in a uranium mine by Josh Brown (April 4); see also Natural nuclear reactor at Oklo
Biological effects of radiation at small doses: the Linear No-Threshhold (LNT) model and its critique by Michela Paganini (April 11)
Energy and Environmental Considerations in Recycling by Griffin Hosseinzadeh (April 11)
Sustainable energies and their environmental impacts by Minyu Feng (April 25)
A summary and update on the 2008 lecture by Dr. Steve Koonin on "Energy Trends & Technologies" by Matthew Nichols (April 25)
Thermohaline circulation in the oceans
Biogenic ocean mixing and its role in the climate
How is the concentration of the atmospheric CO₂ measured?
Dr. Nathan Myhrvold on nuclear energy (see, e.g., this video, and the TerraPower web page)
Nuclear power plants in France (or chose another county)
Irradiation of food (see, for instance, a recent note in Physics Today)
The role of forrest fires in carbon emissions
Hydraulic fracturing
Suggest your own

Acknowledgment and Disclaimer: This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recomendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF).