1 Volumetric Energy Density Use Case

  • What are some questions you can ask and answer with a volumetric energy density?
  • Come up with an example of where a high volumetric density would be desired.

2 Gravimetric Energy Density Use Case

  • What are some questions you can ask and answer with a gravimetric energy density?
  • Come up with an example of where a high gravimetric density would be desired.

3 Energy Efficiency Use Case

  • What are some questions you can ask and answer with an energy efficiency?
  • Come up with an example of where a high energy efficiency would be desired.

4 Energy Density Calculation

Assume it takes about 2 MJ of energy to boil a large pot of water. Assume coal has an energy density of 20 MJ per kg. What mass of coal in kg when burned will release this much energy? (Assume 100% of the energy is absorbed by the water.)

5 Energy Efficiency Calculation

Assume a coal plant is 37% efficient at transforming thermal energy into electrical energy. If you need 50 MWh of electricity, how many MWh of thermal energy from the coal do you need?

6 SSU Digs Coal Planning

Consider the following thought experiment. Suppose our electricity provider is significantly raising our cost of electricity and we are under pressure to find an alternative source of electricity. Now imagine our good fortune as we find an enormous coal deposit under the campus and decide to create a coal plant to provide for all of our electricity needs. In this exercise, we’ll estimate the amount of coal we must mine per year and the carbon dioxide emitted.

Please answer the following in complete sentences. (There are no calculations expected.)

  • What quantities will we need to estimate to determine our coal use and carbon emissions?
  • Which of our analytical tools are we likely to use and why?

7 SSU Digs Coal Discussion

  • What questions do you have about this proposed plan?
  • How do we determine which of our analytical tools are relevant to the problem?
  • How would you explain and document an overall strategy for this estimation?
  • What other related estimations and calculations might be interesting?

8 SSU Digs Coal Estimation

Based on our discussion, write up an estimation of:

  • the coal use per year in kilograms
  • comment on changes to your mental models

9 Next Industrial Revolution Reading

Please answer the following questions in a brief essay. You can find a link to a copy the reading here. You can also find the entire text here.

  • What do you think the author’s main point is in the chapter?
  • Explain the types of scarcity that the author talks about and why they are important.
  • Can you think of an energy service that interests you or that you would be willing to purchase?

10 Conservation of Energy Reading

Please read H&K chapter 3, linked here, on Conservation of Energy and answer the following:

  • What is the difference between a unit conversion and an energy conversion?
  • What energy conversion(s) interest you and why?