Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Part of: Synthesis digital library of engineering and computer science.

Series from website.

Includes bibliographical references.

Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Why college? Why thermodynamics? -- Why this book? -- A textbook companion: a book of ideas -- An open discussion for students and teachers: learning objectives -- Learning process -- Evaluating student work -- References --

1. What and why? -- 1.1 Module 1.1. thermodynamics is about energy -- 1.1.1 Exploration:what is energy? -- 1.2 Module 1.2. pedagogy: how to learn using this book -- 1.2.1 Exploration 1: principles of critical pedagogies -- 1.2.2 Exploration 2: models of learning -- 1.3 Module 1.3. US and world energy needs and uses -- 1.3.1 Exploration 1: energy use -- 1.3.2 Exploration 2: women, poverty, and energy -- 1.3.3 Exploration 3: 1 KW per capita? -- 1.4 Module 1.4. US and world energy policies: what are the issues? -- 1.4.1 Exploration 1: Copenhagen -- 1.4.2 Exploration 2: the cost of energy -- 1.5 Module 1.5. getting education right for a sustainable energy future -- 1.5.1 Exploration 1: power/knowledge -- 1.5.2 Exploration 2: what do current engineering students need to learn to be able to work on energy issues? -- References --

2. The first law: making theory relevant -- 2.1 Module 2.1. learning from history -- 2.1.1 Exploration 1: first law in western Europe -- 2.1.2 Exploration 2: de-centering western thermo -- 2.2 Module 2.2. energy independence -- 2.2.1 Exploration 1: "Foreign" oil independence -- 2.2.2 Exploration 2: energy independence reconceived -- 2.3 Module 2.3. evaporative coolers -- 2.4 Module 2.4. hunger, poverty, and obesity -- 2.5 Module 2.5. thermo to life -- References --

3. The second law and property relations -- 3.1 Module 3.1. the limits of efficiency: heat engines vs. other energy technologies -- 3.2 Module 3.2. perpetual motion machines -- 3.3 Module 3.3. entropy as a social construct -- 3.3.1 Exploration 1: origins of entropy -- 3.3.2 Exploration 2: entropy's philosophical implications -- 3.4 Module 3.4. evaluating entropy analogies -- 3.5 Module 3.5. making math relevant: thermodynamic relations in context -- References --

4. Thinking big picture about energy and sustainability -- 4.1 Module 4.1. climate action -- 4.2 Module 4.2. selection criteria for energy technologies -- 4.2.1 Exploration 1: developing selection criteria -- 4.2.2 Exploration 2: evaluating and selecting power generation technologies -- 4.2.3 Exploration 3: evaluating and selecting transportation technologies -- 4.3 Module 4.3. is it green? -- 4.3.1 Exploration 1: nuclear power as a green alternative? -- 4.3.2 Exploration 2: ethanol -- 4.3.3 Exploration 3: coal train -- 4.4 Module 4.4. home energy uses -- 4.4.1 Exploration 1: solar cooker -- 4.4.2 Exploration 2: refrigeration -- 4.4.3 Exploration 3: Dean Kamen's Stirling engine -- 4.5 Module 4.5. ethics of energy disasters --

References -- Author's biography.

Abstract freely available; full-text restricted to subscribers or individual document purchasers.

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Energy is a basic human need; technologies for energy conversion and use are fundamental to human survival. As energy technology evolves to meet demands for development and ecological sustainability in the 21st century, engineers need to have up-to-date skills and knowledge to meet the creative challenges posed by current and future energy problems. Further, engineers need to cultivate a commitment to and passion for lifelong learning which will enable us to actively engage new developments in the field. This undergraduate textbook companion seeks to develop these capacities in tomorrow's engineers in order to provide for future energy needs around the world.

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Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on November 19, 2011).