Energy and Society: An Introduction, Second Edition / Edition 2

by Harold H. Schobert

Overview

Energy and Society: An Introduction, Second Edition provides readers with a detailed introduction to energy sources and energy utilization. This book presents an overview of alternative energy issues and technologies, discusses the pros and cons of various energy sources, and explores their impacts on society and the environment.

What’s New in the Second Edition:

This second edition offers simple updates, as well as completely rewritten material, regarding the last decade in areas including global climate change, oil prices, renewable and alternative fuels, and diversion of civil nuclear energy programs into nuclear weapons proliferation. It covers the development of energy technology from the time of early humans through antiquity, medieval times, and the Industrial Revolution. It also addresses the development of nuclear energy, energy supply and demand, geopolitics of energy, and the various environmental issues associated with energy use.

• Keeps mathematics to a minimum, making the book usable for a variety of academic majors
• Includes up-to-date coverage of all new energy sources
• Traces the development and utilization of energy throughout history

Energy and Society: An Introduction, Second Edition can benefit undergraduate students taking a survey course in engineering, as well as professionals in the energy supply, energy planning, or environmental industry.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781439826454
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/27/2014
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	720
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Harold Schobert is professor emeritus of fuel science at Penn State University (University Park, PA) and extraordinary professor of natural sciences in the Coal Research Section at North-West University (Potchefstroom, South Africa). Professor Schobert is the author of ten other books and about 140 papers. His work has been recognized by his election as a Fellow of the American Chemical Society. He has received the Henry H. Storch award for lifetime excellence in fuel chemistry, as well as awards from Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences for excellence in teaching and in research, and an award from the Golden Key Honor Society as Penn State's outstanding faculty member.

Table of Contents

Introduction. Energy, Work, And Power. Human Energy. The Energy Balance. Fire. Firewood. Combustion For Home Comfort. Waterwheels. Wind Energy. The Steam Engine. Heat And Thermal Efficiency. Introduction To Electricity. How Electricity Is Generated. Impacts Of Electricity On Society. Electricity From Falling Water. Electricity From Steam. Energy For Transportation. Petroleum And Its Products. Gasoline. The Impact Of The Automobile. Jet Engines And Jet Fuel. Diesel Engines And Diesel Fuel. Atomic Energy. Nuclear Power Plants. The Nuclear Controversy. Energy And The Environment. Acid Rain. Vehicle Emissions And Emissionless Vehicles. Global Climate Change. Fossil Energy: Reserves, Resources, And Geopolitics. Renewable Energy From Biomass. Electricity From Wind. Energy From The Sun. Nuclear Fusion: Bringing The Sun To Earth.

Editorial Reviews

"Energy and Society guides the reader through humanity's efforts to harness and generate power, for both work and play. Energy and Society provides an excellent introduction for anyone who wants to learn about energy use throughout human history."
—Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, Vol 23, June 2003

"Schobert does an excellent job of presenting facts about our past energy use, how it developed, and social issues related to power and energy. I found the many little-known facts presented very interesting, which made reading the book very enjoyable. The way the book was put together made it seem less like a textbook and more like a book written for pleasure reading. … an excellent source for lessons on the development of power and energy, basic power and energy background information …"
—Journal of Industrial Teacher Education, Vol. 40, Summer 2003

From the Publisher