Energy, Environment, and Everyday Life

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/energy-environment-life

Introduction

### Course Review: Energy, Environment, and Everyday Life As our world becomes increasingly aware of the complex interplay between energy, the environment, and our daily lives, the Coursera course titled "Energy, Environment, and Everyday Life," offered by the University of Illinois and taught by Professor David Ruzic, comes as a timely and essential resource. This in-depth course aims to demystify energy and environmental concepts, making them accessible to everyone, from students to professionals. #### Overview The course begins by laying a strong foundation in the basics of energy: its sources, applications, and implications. It dives deep into topics that are crucial for understanding our modern world, focusing not only on fossil fuels but also on renewable energy, nuclear power, and their impacts on the environment. With engaging video segments and hands-on demonstrations, Professor Ruzic manages to make the science behind energy both entertaining and educational. #### Course Structure The course spans eight weeks, each week tackling specific themes related to energy and the environment: - **Week 1: How It All Starts and Ends** - Introduces the fundamental principles of energy, beginning at the atomic level and expanding to global energy statistics. The use of engaging visual demonstrations (like fireworks) aids in understanding. - **Week 2: Getting and Using the Power** - Focuses on the mechanics of energy conversion, particularly engines and electrical grids. The week’s content connects physics with practical applications like hybrid cars and power generation. - **Week 3: Why Coal Is Dirty** - Takes a close look at coal as a fossil fuel, exploring its origins, applications, and environmental impacts. - **Week 4: Oil and Gas – With Us Forever?** - Provides insight into oil and natural gas, unfolding their global significance, economic implications, and controversies, such as fracking. - **Week 5: Renewables – What Is New under the Sun** - Shifts the focus to renewable energy, discussing solar power, wind energy, and biofuels, each explained through relatable experiments and demonstrations. - **Week 6: More Renewables and Your Radioactive World** - Examines additional renewable sources like hydropower and geothermal energy. The introduction to radioactivity helps demystify nuclear energy, comparing its power and potential. - **Week 7: Nuclear Power Problems and Solutions** - Delves deeper into nuclear energy, providing a historical context of major nuclear incidents while exploring safety advancements in modern reactors. - **Week 8: Our Future Is Bright!** - Concludes with discussions on the future of energy, including advanced reactor technology and fusion energy, encouraging thoughtful consideration of long-term solutions. #### Recommendation "Energy, Environment, and Everyday Life" is a highly recommended course for anyone interested in understanding the vital role that energy plays in the environment and human life. Whether you are a student, a professional in a related field, or simply a curious individual, this course offers valuable insights that can inform your understanding of current global challenges and future opportunities. The blend of theoretical knowledge with practical applications is one of the course's strongest aspects. Moreover, Professor Ruzic’s engaging delivery and the inclusion of entertaining experiments make learning about complex topics enjoyable. By the end of the course, you will not only gain a solid understanding of the energy landscape but also enhance your ability to engage in important conversations about environmental sustainability and energy innovation. In conclusion, if you're looking to better comprehend how energy affects our surroundings and daily decisions, enroll in this course. Equip yourself with knowledge that is crucial for the future of our planet while exploring the intriguing world of energy in a fun and informative way!

Syllabus

Course Orientation

You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.

The course starts by looking at the basic principles of energy sources at the level of the atoms and molecules. This shows how everything from wind energy to nuclear energy share the same basic concept. We then go on to blow some stuff up and explain the statistics of what forms of energy are used around the world – who has them, who uses them, and who produces them. “How Things Work” segments start with a bang (fireworks) and then get both louder (bell towers) and softer (silencers).

Here we dig into the two most frequent uses of energy and how to make it into useful devices, namely, the engines in cars and making electricity. How exactly does an engine work, and are there ways to make them better? How do they tie into the basic physics from the first week? We also find out what is so “smart” about the electric grid and how it is changing over time. “How Things Work” features airports, hybrid cars, and really flashy electricity (i.e., lightning!).

Fossil fuels still dominate the energy landscape, and this week we go into them deeply, starting with coal. What is it? Where does it come from? Who has it? Who uses it? What problems does it cause? We will explore global warming and, more importantly, what can be done about it. You get to control the world in a climate model and see how bad (or how good) the future can be. “How Things Work” takes you into a coal power plant, a trash transfer station, and a waste treatment plant, so grab your shovels and hard hat, and let’s dig in!

Oil and natural gas are the most used and most popular energy sources in the world. What are they? Where do they come from? Who uses, needs, and makes them? All the facts and the controversies over pipelines and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) are discussed in detail. All of this is tightly tied to economics so grab your wallets – you will really see where your money goes! "How Things Work” takes us to high places – an observatory, a cell phone tower, and a laser light show!

Renewable energy sources finally make an appearance this week. Here we will tell you about everything powered by the sun directly and indirectly. This includes photo-voltaic, passive solar design, wind, and biofuels. Again, their inner working, what is needed, and how much it costs are the focus. You will see Prof. Ruzic make moonshine and show you how you can, too. “How Things Work” takes you to an actual windmill and brewery, and, just for fun, an ice skating rink.

We finish up renewables this week by discussing those coming from water – hydropower, geothermal, waves, and tides. You will even see Prof. Ruzic walking on water. Then, the world of the nucleus is opened up to you. What is radioactivity and how much should be feared? What is the basis for fission and how does a power plant differ from an atomic bomb? “How Things Work” looks at the visual world – from why the sky is blue to how a 3D IMAX movie system makes it seem like you are really there.

This week covers the heart of nuclear power. We will follow the fuel from the ground and into the reactors. We also cover the major accidents in the history of nuclear power in detail. Do you remember Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and/or Fukushima? Do you want to understand in detail what worked and what did not, how much is costs, and if it is all worthwhile? Then be sure to watch the videos this week. “How Things Work” takes a lighter view – we visit a football stadium, go backstage at a theater, and even peer into the mind by exploring brain-scanning MRIs.

What does the future hold? We’ll start with how to hold the spent nuclear fuel and then talk about the modern “third generation” reactors being built today that have safety systems requiring no mechanical or human intervention. This leads to reactors that can make more fuel than they use and also to nuclear fusion – the energy source of the sun. “How Things Work” explores cooking/grilling, how microwave ovens work, and super computers, taking you to arguably the largest and fastest computer in the world.