PHYS 10600 - Environmental Physics

Course Credit: 1
(ENVS, ESCI)
ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSICS: This course explores the physical principles behind environmental questions impacting our life on Earth. We will learn about the physical meaning of energy, work, power, temperature, and heat and investigate various conventional and sustainable energy ‘production’ methods. The cleanest energy is that which is never used, thus the physics of energy conservation will be examined. We will also explore other physical concepts encountered by living on this planet such as the greenhouse effect, environmental radioactivity, the Sun-Earth system, and the Earth’s magnetic field. Hands-on activities will be used extensively in labs throughout the semester. We will also participate in the Earth Day event on campus. No mathematics beyond high school algebra is assumed. Annually [MNS, QL]