PHYS 575 - Winter Quarter 2012

Special Topics in Applications of Physics:

Physics of Renewable Energy Sources

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last updated: 10/24/2011

NOTE: Students in the Evening MS Program and GNMs register for this course through UW Professional and Continuing Education (see links below), not via MyUW

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:00-8:50 pm, Room A-114 Physics-Astronomy Building
(Thursday class meetings are also offered online)

Instructor: R. J. Wilkes, Kenneth Young Memorial Professor of Physics

Office: B303 Physics-Astronomy, (206) 543-4232

Email: wilkes@u.washington.edu

Audience:

This course will be of interest to professionals working in, or considering starting a business related to renewable energy or green energy, as well as to students in physical sciences and engineering who want to learn more about the science of non-fossil energy sources.

Course content:

Review of thermodynamics and applications to energy generation and transport; review of fluid mechanics and applications to wind and wave energy sources; electrical power generation and distribution, direct and indirect solar energy conversion; review of nuclear physics and applications to new ideas in nuclear fission power systems, and nuclear fusion power.

The course will combine lectures with a seminar-discussion format. Specific topics covered may vary to reflect the interests of students.
Students will be expected to make brief, informal presentations, reporting on topics they have chosen to investigate.
Class will meet two nights per week as scheduled. However, the Thursday evening meeting will be offered online. Students may attend from home, work, or any other internet-connected site, using ordinary web browsers, and Adobe Connect software provided by PCE. Students who prefer to attend in person may join the instructor in A-114 PAB as usual.

Prerequisites:

Graduate standing, or permission of instructor. Intermediate level undergraduate physics courses (E&M, QM, and thermodynamics), or equivalent engineering courses. The course will begin with a review of relevant physics topics, so students whose memory of their college physics courses is distant or imperfect will be able to catch up.

Open to:

a) Students enrolled in the UW Physics Evening MS Degree Program (register for section B via PCE).

b) Anyone with adequate undergraduate preparation in a physical science, mathematics or engineering, including the prerequisites listed above. You may enroll for this class as a graduate non-matriculated student (GNM), without joining the degree program. Please contact the PCE admissions office for further information: http://www.nondegree.washington.edu/nondegree/

c) Full or part time UW graduate students, from any college or campus (register for section C via MyUW).

UW Professional and Continuing Education (PCE) links:

To request forms for course registration, or for questions about registration, please contact:

Kim Mechaelis
Program Administrator
206-685-6312
kmechaelis@pce.uw.edu

UW Physics Evening MS program:

For more information about the Evening MS Degree Program, see
http://www.phys.washington.edu/emsp.htm

or contact :

R. J. Wilkes
Faculty Coordinator for Physics EMSP
wilkes@u.washington.edu
(206)-543-4232