Physics and Astronomy |
|
Physics Home | Study here | Our Teaching | Our Research | Our Centres | News | Work here | EMPS |
Back to top
PHY3112 Energy and the Environment2007-2008Code: PHY3112Title: Energy and the Environment Instructors: Dr D.A. Coley and Mr T.A. Mitchell CATS credits: 10 ECTS credits: 5 Availability: unrestricted Level: 3 Pre-requisites: N/A Co-requisites: N/A Background Assumed: Thermal Physics (PHY1002) and Statistical Physics (PHY2201) Duration: Semester II Directed Study Time: 16 lectures and 6 project sessions Private Study Time: 78 hours Assessment Tasks Time: - Observation report: 2002/03 ASP (JAC) AimsThe aim of this module is to introduce students to the broad range of issues concerned in the relationship between energy-use and environmental change. Energy is mainly derived from fossil fuels; there are two problems with this energy source. The first is that it is finite, and so in the future we must move to sustainable energy sources. Secondly, fossil fuels pollute the environment on both a local and a global scale. For example the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are increasing, and this is likely to lead to global warming. Students will become acquainted with the technical, economic and social issues in sufficient depth to allow them to make informed and quantitative judgements on proposals to ameliorate environmental damage by policy and other changes. They also have the opportunity to exercise these skills in examining a "real world" issue in the course of researching a project report. Intended Learning OutcomesStudents should be able to: Module Specific Skills
Discipline Specific Skills
Personal and Key Skills
Lectures, worksheets, WWW, group project. AssignmentsWorksheets. Project-report (5000 words) and group presentation. AssessmentWorksheets (50%), group project (40%) and presentation (10%). Syllabus Plan and Content
Core TextNot applicableSupplementary Text(s)(2000), Basics of Environmental Science, Taylor and Francis, ISBN 0-415-21175-1 (UL: 504 ALL)(1995), Environmental Physics, John Wiley and Sons, ISBN 0-471-93931-5 (UL: 628 BOE) (1996), Renewable Energy - Power for a Sustainable Future, OUP/OU, ISBN 0-19-856452-x (UL: 333.82 BOY) (1986), Energy and the Atmosphere, A Physical-Chemical Approach (2nd edition), Wiley, ISBN 0-471-90856-8 (UL: 551.511 CAM) (1997), Energy: A Guidebook, An Opus book, OUP, ISBN 0-192-88022-5 (UL: 333.79 RAM) , Renewable Energy Resources, F. and F.N. Spon, ISBN 0-419-12010-6 (UL: 621.4 TWI) Formative MechanismsMarked worksheets are returned to students for their inspection, so that they can monitor their own learning progress. Many of the resources required to complete the project report are located within the Centre for Energy and the Environment, this gives students the opportunity to discuss their reports with staff during compilation. The outcome of group presentations is communicated directly by audience response and marked by staff. Any issues which arise during the marking of the worksheets, and which indicate a general difficulty with any topic, are raised with the class in lectures. Evaluation MechanismsThe module will be evaluated using information gathered via the student representation mechanisms, the staff peer appraisal scheme, and measures of student attainment based on summative assessment. |