Energy

Synopsis

A "meticulously researched" (The New York Times Book Review) examination of energy transitions over time and an exploration of the current challenges presented by global warming, a surging world population, and renewable energy-from Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning author Richard Rhodes.

People have lived and died, businesses have prospered and failed, and nations have risen to world power and declined, all over energy challenges. Through an unforgettable cast of characters, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Rhodes explains how wood gave way to coal and coal made room for oil, as we now turn to natural gas, nuclear power, and renewable energy. "Entertaining and informative…a powerful look at the importance of science" (NPR.org), Rhodes looks back on five centuries of progress, through such influential figures as Queen Elizabeth I, King James I, Benjamin Franklin, Herman Melville, John D. Rockefeller, and Henry Ford.

In his "magisterial history…a tour de force of popular science" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), Rhodes shows how breakthroughs in energy production occurred; from animal and waterpower to the steam engine, from internal-combustion to the electric motor. He looks at the current energy landscape, with a focus on how wind energy is competing for dominance with cast supplies of coal and natural gas. He also addresses the specter of global warming, and a population hurtling towards ten billion by 2100.

Human beings have confronted the problem of how to draw energy from raw material since the beginning of time. Each invention, each discovery, each adaptation brought further challenges, and through such transformations, we arrived at where we are today. "A beautifully written, often inspiring saga of ingenuity and progress…Energy brings facts, context, and clarity to a key, often contentious subject" (Booklist, starred review).

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Summary

Chapter 1: Energy and Its Forms

* Summary:
* Defines energy as the capacity to do work or cause change.
* Introduces different forms of energy, such as kinetic, potential, thermal, electrical, and chemical.
* Real Example:
* A rolling ball has kinetic energy due to its motion.
* A stretched rubber band has potential energy stored within it.

Chapter 2: Energy Sources and Transformations

* Summary:
* Explains that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.
* Discusses various energy sources, including fossil fuels, renewable resources, and nuclear energy.
* Real Example:
* A generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
* A solar panel transforms light energy into electrical energy.

Chapter 3: Energy Conservation and Efficiency

* Summary:
* Introduces the law of conservation of energy, stating that the total amount of energy in a closed system remains constant.
* Emphasizes the importance of energy efficiency in reducing energy waste.
* Real Example:
* A well-insulated home conserves heat and reduces energy consumption for heating.
* An energy-star appliance uses less energy to perform the same task.

Chapter 4: Heat and Temperature

* Summary:
* Explains the concepts of heat and temperature.
* Discusses how heat transfer occurs through conduction, convection, and radiation.
* Real Example:
* A metal spoon heats up when placed in hot water through conduction.
* A fan circulates air through convection, transferring heat around a room.

Chapter 5: Thermodynamics

* Summary:
* Introduces the laws of thermodynamics, which govern the behavior of heat and energy in systems.
* Explains the concepts of entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
* Real Example:
* An ice cube melts and increases its entropy as it transitions from a solid to a liquid state.

Chapter 6: Energy and Power

* Summary:
* Defines power as the rate at which energy is transferred or consumed.
* Explains the relationship between power, energy, and time.
* Real Example:
* A 100-watt light bulb consumes energy at a rate of 100 joules per second.
* A hydroelectric dam generates power by harnessing the kinetic energy of falling water.

Chapter 7: Energy and the Environment

* Summary:
* Discusses the environmental impacts of energy production and consumption, such as air pollution, climate change, and resource depletion.
* Explores sustainable energy practices and technologies.
* Real Example:
* Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change.
* Installing solar panels reduces reliance on fossil fuels and promotes clean energy.