ENERGY AND CLIMATE
Introduction to energy, focusing on energy sources and their impacts on humans and the environment, particularly through climate change. Develop basic physics skills to form opinions on energy-related issues affecting the world as well as your own use of energy. Apply the physical principles of mechanics, heat, electricity, and atomic nuclei to various energy sources (fossil fuels, renewables, and nuclear) and their impacts.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A. Not open to students with credit for PHYSICS 103 , 201 , 207 , or 247 . Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness + Lab Comm QR - Quantitative Reasoning B Breadth - Physical Science Level - Elementary L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Qualitatively describe and quantitatively analyze the physics behind energy technologies and their impacts, including climate change Audience: Undergraduate 2. Apply foundational physics concepts to solve quantitative problems regarding energy use in society Audience: Undergraduate 3. Critically assess and discuss current issues in energy and climate, and how these issues are reported in the news Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Qualitatively describe and quantitatively analyze the physics behind energy technologies and their impacts, including climate change Audience: Undergraduate 2. Apply foundational physics concepts to solve quantitative problems regarding energy use in society Audience: Undergraduate 3. Critically assess and discuss current issues in energy and climate, and how these issues are reported in the news Audience: Undergraduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027