ABSTRACT

People rarely stop to think about where the energy they use to power their everyday lives comes from and when they do it is often to ask a worried question: is mankind’s energy usage killing the planet? How do we deal with nuclear waste? What happens when the oil runs out? Energy: The Basics answers these questions but it also does much more. In this engaging yet even-handed introduction, readers are introduced to:

  • the concept of ‘energy’ and what it really means
  • the ways energy is currently generated and the sources used
  • new and emerging energy technologies such as solar power and biofuels
  • the impacts of energy use on the environment including climate change

Featuring explanatory diagrams, tables, a glossary and an extensive further reading list, this book is the ideal starting point for anyone interested in the impact and future of the world’s energy supply.

chapter 1|11 pages

Energy and Us

chapter 2|10 pages

Human Energy and the Energy Balance

chapter 3|10 pages

Water, Wind, and Kinetic Energy

chapter 4|17 pages

Heat, Steam, and Thermal Efficiency

chapter 5|13 pages

Electricity

chapter 6|8 pages

Electricity from Falling Water

chapter 7|12 pages

Electricity from Steam

chapter 8|27 pages

Petroleum, its Products, and Their Engines

chapter 9|29 pages

Nuclear Energy

chapter 10|14 pages

Biomass Energy

chapter 11|12 pages

Electricity from Wind

chapter 12|15 pages

Energy from the Sun

chapter 13|17 pages

Energy and Climate

chapter 14|4 pages

The Twelve-Terawatt Challenge