Human uses of Energy with Professional Skills (PHY00019C) 2019-20 - Module catalogue, Student home, University of York Module catalogue, Header - Student home, The University of York
Human uses of Energy with Professional Skills - PHY00019C
Module co-ordinator: Prof. Roddy Vann
Classical Mechanics & Relativity with Professional Skills (PHY00018C)
The aim of the professional skills element of this module is to develop the core competencies and knowledge required of any physicist, including a general introduction to the subject, basic IT skills, report writing, use of information resources, experimental techniques, problem solving and computer programming. This will be achieved through a mix of activities, including laboratories, workshops, lectures, programming classes and small group teaching. The knowledge and skills learnt will be further developed in later years.
The “human uses of energy” component of the module aims to give an appreciation of the energy “budget” typical of the world today, in terms of both energy demand (for an appropriate standard of living) and also energy supply. This will enable students to apply basic physics principles to understand the options for energy production (at least partially in the context of carbon emission reduction) and to understand the ways in which energy is used. Working on these topics will develop fundamental physics skills in problem solving, including simplifying problems to render them tractable and making quantitative approximations.
Solve a range of problems in various topics surrounding energy usage and supply, applying skills including approximation and simplification, and presenting solutions in ways that are readily comprehensible
Discuss the need for energy, a reduced dependence on carbon fuels, and the benefits and/or drawbacks of various production methods, including economic considerations
Calculate and/or estimate the energy consumption associated with different activities such as transport and heating.
Calculate and/or estimate the (potential) capacity for energy production & storage from various methods, including (but not limited to) wind turbines, hydroelectric and nuclear fusion
Understand the thermodynamics of heat pumps and heat engines
Make simple estimates of the cost of electricity from different energy sources
Professional Skills Syllabus
Scientific report writing (week 6, term 1): An introduction to writing scientific reports (1-hour workshop).
Problem solving skills (fortnightly, term 1): Small group discussions with your supervisor, to help develop “thinking-like-a-physicist” skills such as order of magnitude estimations, dimensional analysis, applying differential equations, and curve sketching and interpretation (5 x 1-hour tutorials).
Aims: This course introduces problem solving using computers, using Python as the programming language. The most difficult aspect of programming is designing a step-by-step recipe (algorithm) to solve a given problem. This kind of logical problem solving is a useful skill which is highly valued in research and in the commercial world, and which all physicists should learn through practice. Once an algorithm has been designed, it must be implemented in a programming language, which for this course is Python. Python is a modern language which is freely available for Windows, Linux/Unix and Mac OS with extensive documentation, tutorials and extensions available online. It is easy to learn but very powerful, and is increasingly being used commercially and in scientific research. Students will learn how to create programs in the Python language to solve physics problems and then visualise the results in 2D and 3D. The emphasis is on problem solving, and teaching skills which students can then apply to other areas of their study.
Python's module system and importing libraries
Mini-conference (weeks 8-10, Term 3)
Students will choose a topic in physics and prepare a short presentation for an informal “mini-conference” in week 10. The emphasis is on enjoyment of physics and relaxed discussion of topics of interest, including subjects that will be explored in greater depth in year 2. Prior to the presentation in week 10, guidance and help will be given on presentation skills and discussion of subject and content.
Human Uses of Energy syllabus (refer also to lecture summary)
The need for energy – how much and to whom
Thermodynamics of heat engines & heat pumps
Fluctuations in demand and supply
Health impact & safety
Lectures are intended to highlight and explore the key concepts of each topic. Reading of the textbook and other sources will be required for a complete understanding of the course. Lectures will be a blend of delivery and discussion and students are expected to actively participate.
Students will need to make their own lecture notes in addition to those supplied by the lecturer. Lectures will be recorded to allow students to capture all points discussed and additional supporting material will be made available via the VLE.
Marking of lab books N/A 5
Physics Practice Questions N/A 7
Python: assignments N/A 20
Statistics N/A 10
Human uses of Energy 1.5 hours 43
The Python course will be assessed by weekly short multiple-choice tests (10%), followed by five weekly programming assignments of increasing difficulty (first two assignments 15% each, following three assignments 20% each). Programming assignments will be assessed on the quality of source code. (NB. percentages stated in this paragraph are percentages of the total Python course mark, not the total Professional Skills module mark.)
The energy and environment element of the module will be assessed through a combination of Physics Practice Questions and a 1.5 hour examination.
PPQs within 7 days deadline. Python programming assignments will be returned with comments and suggestions for improvement. Mark for the laboratory note book received from the demonstrator at the end of a completed experiment and receive report back along with a mark sheet that provides a mark and a set of comments/suggestions for each section of the report.
“Sustainable Energy without the hot air” ( also available as a free e-book at http://www.withouthotair.com/ ) by David MacKay
“Energy science : principles, technologies, and impacts” by Andrews & Jelley
“Elementary Climate Physics” by F.W.Taylor