In 2008, total worldwide energy consumption was 474 exajoules (474000000000000000000 jouls) with 80 to 90 percent derived from the combustion of fossil fuels. But how does a lump of coal or barrel of oil get turned into this magical energy we are so addicted to? In this seminar we will start with an introduction on how we use energy, some facts about fossil fuels, and the constraints of the environment. We will then learn about how different power plants work, and what power plants will look like (most likely) in the future.

This second part of the “Energy Conversion and the Environment” series will deal with renewable sources of energy, such as wind, hydro, solar and geothermal, and biofuels, as well as some unconventional types of energy, such as fuel cells. We will cover the basics of each of these technologies, and I will attempt to put the challenges and benefits of these “clean” energy sources in a realistic light.

If you want to get a lot of power from a small machine, you need a jet engine. The more general term for these machines is “gas turbine”, they come in a few variations – turbojet, turboprop, turbofan and turboshaft. These amazing machines run at incredible shaft speeds and operate at temperatures well above the melting temperature of any known super-alloys. How do they do it? This class will pop the hood and take into the guts of a gas turbine to show you how it all works.

Ever wonder why some materials are stronger than others? What is the magic behind making a samurai sward? Even questions as “simple” as “why things bend” or “how things break” need a little more explaining if you really think about it. So come learn about the microscopic world of…well, everything around you.