1Energy and theEnvironmentPHYS 3070 and ENVS 3070Professor Jamie NagleThe web page for this course will be used to link reading assignments, homework, solutions, additional materials, etc.http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys3070Associate Professor Jamie Naglehttp://spot.colorado.edu/[email protected]* Email is the best way to contact meOffice hours:Location – Gamow Tower second floor (F221)Monday 1 – 2 pmWednesday 11 am - noon Or by appointment.A few basics about how the course is going to work….Font check28 point font24 point font20 point font18 point font16 point font8 point font2Exams and Term Papers:Three in-class exams (dates to be announced well in advance).There are no make up exams.There is no final exam for the course.Disabilities …Religious observances …Honor code …Two research term papers (details to be discussed later).4 pages typed (12 point font, double spaced)References and figures at the end (not part of 4 pages)Meant to be a research paper, not a book report.All work must be your own or properly cited.Homework:Assignments given every Wednesday (as posted on web page).Completed homework due on Wednesday at 5:00 pm in the wooden box (label 3070) outside the physics help room (Duane 2B level).No late homework will be accepted.The lowest homework score is dropped from your grade.Inquire/Inform Short Assignments:Science is not a vacuum. Scientific inquiry should inform us. More details on these two assignments later.First assignment is available, and due on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 (at 5 pm).iClickersWe will be using the in class response system (iClicker). Make sure to register your iClicker (see web page for details).iClicker responses will count towards your grade. 3 points for a correct answer, 2 points for an incorrect answer, and 0 for no response. iClickers start counting on Monday, September 8, 2008. *Questions that ask for an opinion are counted as all correct answers.Clicker QuestionI have an iClicker with me today.A) YesB) I cannot vote because I do not have my iClicker ☺Grading for the course:There will be occasional extra credit projects given as announced in class and on the class web page.3Class etiquette:No laptops openNo text messagingDiscussions during discussion timeI like to call on people by name…Make sure you are prepared by paying attention, doing the reading, and actively using your brain during class.Big Topics:Fundamentals of Energy (basic physics)Fossil Fuels (what we are doing now)Heat Engines (more physics, how we use fossil fuels)Alternate Fuels (solar, wind, nuclear, …)Conservation/Energy in the homeTransportation and pollutionGlobal effects (ozone, greenhouse warming)Let me know if there are things you would like to learn about!Issues of energy and the environment come in and out of the public view. We are entering another (perhaps longer) time of public focus and discussion.Note that this is a physics course!The class has no prerequisites except algebra and logical thinking.Many issues we will cover are complex, and can be emotional with strong opinions on different sides.This is not physics such as if I slide a block down an incline plane without friction….But still, it is subject to quantitative logical scientific reasoning. We will focus on facts and technical aspects here.I leave the social/ethical/judgments to you to draw from the facts and analysis. This is not a policy class.You can express your opinion, but I will always ask you to back it up with scientific and quantitative argumentation.4Previous chairperson of Senate Environment and Public Works CommitteeJames Inhofe, R-Okla.Climate change is the “greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.”Current chairperson….Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.Climate change is the “greatest challenge of our generation.”The math skills in this class span a large range.Do not fear the math you do not know, just resolve to put in the effort to learn it during this course. I will help you.Short Diagnostic Exam (does not count for any grade)!5Scientifically true statement:The more fire trucks that are sent to fight a fire, the more damage the fire does.Correlation or Causation?Caution I Caution IINewspaper articles (i.e. popular press) often briefly summarize what reporters have “learned” in 5-10 minutes from what researches have been working on for years.These articles need to be viewed with caution and for research should be backed up with more detailed source
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