In the previous lesson, we considered energy in its many kinetic and potential forms and began our investigation into the energy industry. To get energy when and where we need it, in a form that is useful to us, we create conditions that cause energy transformations. For example, when we drive a car or when we produce electricity from burning coal or spinning windmills and cool our home, we are orchestrating large scale energy transformations to give us energy when and where we want it.
This lesson explains the fundamental nature of those energy transformations that are most relevant to the energy industry, how we use energy and how the inputs and outputs of these activities interact with the environment. These transformations will be the groundwork for future lessons regarding climate change, electricity demand and generation, and transportation fuels and systems.
You'll need to be comfortable with the content of the reading from Lesson 1. These terms, defined there, will be used throughout this lesson and course: potential energy, chemical energy, mechanical energy, nuclear energy, gravitational energy, electrical energy, kinetic energy, radiant energy, thermal energy, motion energy, sound energy, conservation of energy, and energy efficiency. It may be helpful during the course of this lesson to refer back to the Lesson 1 reading assignment.
With the successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
The chart below provides an overview of the requirements for Lesson 2. For details regarding the assignment, refer to the page(s) noted in the table.
Please refer to the Calendar in CANVAS for specific time frames and due dates.
REQUIREMENT | LOCATION | SUBMITTED FOR GRADING? |
---|---|---|
Reading: Read all pages of Lesson 2 and interact with related materials as instructed. | Pages 2 - 10 | No |
Lesson 2 Activity: Complete Lesson 2 Activity. (It's in CANVAS, under Modules, Unit 1.) | Page 4 | Yes |
Unit 1 Discussion Forum: Energy's Pace of Change (It's in CANVAS, under Modules, Unit 1.) | Page 5 | Yes |
If you have any questions, please post them to our Questions about EGEE 401? Discussion in CANVAS. Use this Discussion for general questions about course content and administration. I will check it daily to respond. While you are there, feel free to post your own responses if you, too, are able to help out a classmate or have a related question.