George C. King - Physics of Energy Sources

This edition first published 2018

2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Name: King, George C., author.

Title: Physics of energy sources / George C. King, University of Manchester, UK.

Other titles: Manchester physics series.

Description: First edition. | Chichester, UK ; Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,

[2018] | Series: Manchester physics series

Identifiers: LCCN 2016050484 (print) | LCCN 2016054262 (ebook) | ISBN

9781119961673 (hardback ; cloth) | ISBN 111996167X (hardback ; cloth) |

ISBN 9781119961680 (pbk.) | ISBN 1119961688 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781118698440

(pdf) | ISBN 9781118698426 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Power resources. | Renewable energy sources. | Physics.

Classification: LCC TJ163.2 .K53 2018 (print) | LCC TJ163.2 (ebook) | DDC
621.3101/53dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016050484

Cover design: Wiley

Cover image: Top circle: Gemasolar plant SENER/TORRESOL ENERGY;

Bottom circle: Courtesy of ESA https://images.nasa.gov/#/details-PIA03149.html

But why are such terrific efforts made just to find new particles? asked Mr Tompkins.

Well, this is science, replied the professor, the attempt of the human mind to understand everything around us, be it giant stellar galaxies, microscopic bacteria, or these elementary particles. It is interesting and exciting, and that is why we are doing it.

From Mr Tompkins Tastes a Japanese Meal, by George Gamow (Mr Tompkins in Paperback, Cambridge University Press (1965), p.186).

To my family: Michele,
May, George and May.

The Manchester Physics Series is a set of textbooks at first degree level. It grew out of the experience at the University of Manchester, widely shared elsewhere, that many textbooks contain much more material than can be accommodated in a typical undergraduate course; and that this material is only rarely so arranged as to allow the definition of a short self-contained course. The plan for this series was to produce short books so that lecturers would find them attractive for undergraduate courses, and so that students would not be frightened off by their encyclopaedic size or price. To achieve this, we have been very selective in the choice of topics, with the emphasis on the basic physics together with some instructive, stimulating and useful applications.

Although these books were conceived as a series, each of them is self-contained and can be used independently of the others. Several of them are suitable for wider use in other sciences. Each Author's Preface gives details about the level, prerequisites, etc., of that volume.

The Manchester Physics Series has been very successful since its inception over 40 years ago, with total sales of more than a quarter of a million copies. We are extremely grateful to the many students and colleagues, at Manchester and elsewhere, for helpful criticisms and stimulating comments. Our particular thanks go to the authors for all the work they have done, for the many new ideas they have contributed, and for discussing patiently, and often accepting, the suggestions of the editors.

Finally we would like to thank our publishers, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., for their enthusiastic and continued commitment to the Manchester Physics Series.

J. R. Forshaw
H. F. Gleeson
F. K. Loebinger
August 2014

We live in a technological age where energy plays a central role. Because of its importance, issues regarding the availability and cost of energy and the environmental impact are never far from the daily news. This book describes the main sources of energy that are available to us together with the underlying physics that governs them. In particular, it deals with nuclear power, solar power, wind power, wave and tidal power. The book also describes the ways in which energy can be stored for future use. Studying the physics of energy sources has various advantages. First, such a study encompasses a wide range of physics from classical physics to quantum physics. In this way it supports other undergraduate courses in the physical sciences and engineering. Secondly, energy sources represent real applications of fundamental physics, and although energy sources are being continuously developed, the underlying physics that governs them remains the same. The book is addressed mainly to science and engineering students, who require knowledge of the physical principles governing the operation of energy sources. It is based on an introductory 24-lecture course entitled Physics of Energy Sources given by the author at the University of Manchester. The course was attended by first- and second-year undergraduate students taking physics or a joint honours degree course with physics, but it should also be useful for students on engineering and environmental science degree courses. The book covers the topics given in the course although it amplifies the material delivered in the lectures. A basic knowledge of differentiation and integration is assumed and simple differential equations are used, while undue mathematical complication and detail are avoided.