STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 I.      Discuss how the world currently uses energy.

 II.     Describe the difference between non-renewable and renewable resources.

 III.    Display an understanding of the physics of energy and work and the problems of energy conversion.

 IV.     Summarize information about the current state of electricity distribution systems and their limitations.

 V.      Summarize how fossil fuels develop, where they are located and why extraction is an environmental issue.

 VI.     Display an understanding of the relationship between energy technology emissions and global climate change.

 VII.    Summarize the current use of solar, wind and hydro power systems.

 VIII.   Discuss the current use of nuclear power and understand the workings of a nuclear power plant.

 IX.     Describe the difference between passive and active solar technology systems.

 X       Compare the feasibility of wind, biomass and geothermal technologies to replace fossil fuels.

 XI.     Explore energy conservation and the future of energy

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.      World Energy Use Overview: Past, Present and Future

         A.      How society uses energy

         B.      Environmental concerns: global warming

         C.      Discussion of fossil fuels: distribution and depletion

         D.      Efficiency and distribution of current systems

 II.     Physics of energy needed to understand energy and environmental processes.

         A.      SI units

         B.      Work and energy

         C.      Laws of thermodynamics

         D.      Heat transfer and heat engines

         E.      Electricity and electric generators

         F.      Nuclear fission and fusion

 III.    Overview of Technological-engineering systems for the extraction, processing and the end-use of energy.

         A.      Energy conservation and storage

         B.      Engineering limitations of current grid systems.

         C.      Needs for new technology implementation

 IV.     Overview of Non-renewable vs. Renewable energy sources

         A.      What makes something renewable?

         B.      Fossil fuels defined

         C.      Peak oil controversy

         D.      Environmental issues of extraction (coal, oil, gas, minerals)

         E.      Emissions and global warming

         F.      Electricity from solar, wind and hydro

 V.      Fossils Fuels: where do we go now?

         A.      Oil, natural gas, coal: depletion, cost

         B.      Hybrids: an answer?

         C.      Clean technology: coal gasification, CO2 sequestration

 VI.     Nuclear energy: how far can it take us?

         A.      Fission reactors

         B.      Waste, risk assessment

         C.      Radiation effects

         D.      Fusion

 VII.    Solar Energy

         A.      Passive solar

         B.      Active solar

 VIII.   Wind energy

         A.      Power output

         B.      Current systems, economics

 IX.     Biomass energy

         A.      Biomass conversion

         B.      Biomass sources

         C.      Solid waste

 X       Geothermal

         A.      Hydrothermal systems

         B.      Geothermal reservoirs

         C.      Low-temp geothermal

 XI.     Energy Conservation and the Future