The Simple Physics of Energy Use
Oxford University Press (Verlag)
978-0-19-894893-3 (ISBN)
Our modern standard of living depends on the transformation of energy from sources like fossil fuels, atomic nuclei, the sun, and wind into usable forms. This book examines the fundamental physics behind energy use that is crucial in our daily lives.
Amid widespread discussions about the potentially harmful and irreversible impact of CO₂ emissions on climate change, is the potential of renewable energy sources like solar and wind to replace fossil fuels. The Simple Physics of Energy Use 2nd Edition questions the feasibility of this transition. What does fundamental physics reveal about the practicality of this solution? Is it realistic to eliminate CO₂ emissions rather than reduce them? Inspired by modern media debate, this book provides thought-provoking problems based on real-world proposals.
Examining three key aspects of energy use in modern life: environmental control in buildings, transportation of people and goods, and manufacturing, this new edition provides a comprehensive overview of the subject. It also offers an in-depth exploration of electrical power generation and the use of simple algebra provides a clear, big-picture perspective that highlights significant factors in understanding the physics of energy use. This is a key text for readers interested in the origins and applications of the energy we rely on.
Peter Rez was an undergraduate at Cambridge Univeristy and received his doctorate at Oxford Univeristy. His expertise is in the physics of electron and X-ray scattering, mainly applied to electron microscopy and spectroscopy but also applied to radiation detectors and medical physics. He has also worked on modeling of battery and other materials. This lead to work on normal biomineralization, the formation of calcite shells. He has also commented on issues where physics affects society at large, both in the deployment of X-ray based body scanners at airports (since abandoned) and more recently on energy policy and climate science.
Preface to the Second Edition
Introduction
1: Energy and Society
Part I Controlling the Indoor Environment
2: Buildings
3: Electrical Power Generation: Fossil Fuels
4: Nuclear Power Generation
5: Electrical Power Distribution
6: Electrical Power Generation: Renewables-Solar and Wind
7: Electrical Power Generation: Hydroelectricity, Tides, and Pumped Storage
Part II Moving People and Things Around
8: Transportation: Fuel Energies
9: Ground Transportation: Road and Rail
10: Air Transportation
11: Ground Transportation: Ships
Part III Making Stuff
12: Materials that Come from the Earth
13: Agriculture: Things that Are Grown
14: Embodied Energy and Energy Return on Investment
15: Summary-What Should Be Done?
Appendix A Energy Used by Different Countries, from the BP Statistical Review
Appendix B Thermodynamic Relations
Appendix C Ground Source Heat Pumps
Appendix D1
Appendix D2 Ultimate Efficiency of Photovoltaic Cell
Appendix D3 Maximum Power of Photovoltaic Cell
Appendix E Betz's Law
Appendix F Hydrogen Leakage
Appendix G1 Optimal Airspeeds
Appendix G2 The Rocket Equation
Appendix H Units Factors of 10
| Erscheinungsdatum | 20.09.2025 |
|---|---|
| Zusatzinfo | 92 b/w and colour images |
| Verlagsort | Oxford |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Maße | 193 x 254 mm |
| Gewicht | 874 g |
| Themenwelt | Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Ökologie / Naturschutz |
| Naturwissenschaften ► Geowissenschaften ► Geophysik | |
| Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Angewandte Physik | |
| ISBN-10 | 0-19-894893-X / 019894893X |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0-19-894893-3 / 9780198948933 |
| Zustand | Neuware |
| Informationen gemäß Produktsicherheitsverordnung (GPSR) | |
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