The fourth edition of this successful textbook concisely covers the fundamentals of energy physics and technology, fossil fuels, renewable energy, nuclear energy as well as the topics of energy conservation and transportation. Further chapters deal with the issues of energy-related air pollution and the interplay between global policies and energy research and technology.
Throughout the textbook, all figures and tables have been updated to reflect the developments since the publication of the previous edition, e.g., conventional and renewable energy consumption and oil production.
Additional discussions on:
- fossil fuel infrastructure problems such as the Colorado and Massachusetts gas explosion and the ExxonMobil lawsuit (Chapter 2)
- the Hoover Dam as a renewable energy battery (Chapter 5)
- world-wide policy effects on nuclear energy after Fukushima (Chapter 6)
- lawsuit of California against the US Environmental Protection Agency regarding fuel efficiency standards (Chapter 8)
- California’s new clean energy bill (Chapter 9)
- methane release from permafrost, ice sheet melting, wildfires, heatwaves, extreme weather, Paris agreement, IPCC report
Robert A. Ristinen, PhD, deceased, was Professor of Physics at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He served as Chair of the University’s Radiation Safety Committee and Chair of the University Energy Conservation Committee.
Jack J. Kraushaar, PhD, deceased, was Professor of Physics at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He served on the Rocky Flats Citizens Advisory Committee, the Boulder County Energy Conservation Board, and on the University Energy Conservation Committee.
Jeffrey T. Brack, PhD, retired, was Senior Research Scientist at the University of Colorado in Boulder, and in the High Energy Physics group at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, concentrating in Particle Astrophysics. He was a member of the international Pierre Auger Observatory Collaboration.
PREFACE
Table of Content
CHAPTER 1 – Energy Fundamentals, Energy Use in an Industrial Society
CHAPTER 2 – The Fossil Fuels
CHAPTER 3 – Heat Engines
CHAPTER 4 – Renewable Energy Sources I: Solar Energy
CHAPTER 5 – Renewable Energy Sources II: Alternatives
CHAPTER 6 – The Promise and Problems of Nuclear Energy
CHAPTER 7 – Energy Conservation
CHAPTER 8 – Transportation
CHAPTER 9 – Air Pollution
CHAPTER 10 – Global Effects
APPENDIX
ANSWERS TO SELECTED END-OF-CHAPTER PROBLEMS
INDEX
