The Physics of Energy

An energy flow diagram.

An energy flow diagram representing the 2004 U.S. energy flow. (Image courtesy of Energy Information Administration.)

Instructor(s)

MIT Course Number

8.21

As Taught In

Fall 2009

Level

Undergraduate

Cite This Course

Course Description

Course Features

Course Description

This course is designed to give you the scientific understanding you need to answer questions like:

  • How much energy can we really get from wind?
  • How does a solar photovoltaic work?
  • What is an OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Converter) and how does it work?
  • What is the physics behind global warming?
  • What makes engines efficient?
  • How does a nuclear reactor work, and what are the realistic hazards?

The course is designed for MIT sophomores, juniors, and seniors who want to understand the fundamental laws and physical processes that govern the sources, extraction, transmission, storage, degradation, and end uses of energy.

Other Versions

Other OCW Versions

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Related Content

Robert Jaffe, and Washington Taylor. 8.21 The Physics of Energy. Fall 2009. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare, https://ocw.mit.edu. License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA.


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