Course Syllabus

Energy and sustainability is a complex subject lying at the intersection of physics, chemistry, environmental studies, economics, and politics. Passionate debate, misconceptions, and in the worst cases misinformation, abound. So it’s important that you get some skills navigating a sometimes messy landscape of confusing and contradictory information. My goals are that you

• can figure out "what’s true" when consuming science-related media or engaging in science-related discussions;
  
• are comfortable while doing it;
• understand fundamental, physical constraints on energy use;
• understand the environmental impact of energy use and consumption; and
• can do basic economic and physical estimations pertaining to your own energy use.

You should be able to find it in the Bookshelf link to the left.

The only book you need for the class is the Wolfson. However you may wish to learn about some of these subjects in a bit more detail on your own. Here are some books I like for that purpose:

• Thermodynamics: I like An Introduction to Thermal Physics by D. V. Schroeder.
• Electrodynamics: A classic is D. J. Griffith's Introduction to Electrodynamics.
• Probability and Statistics: A rigorous book is An Introduction to Probability Theory and its Applications by W. Feller. A pedagogical and practical book, recommended by Dr. DeLong, is J. R. Taylor's An Introduction to Error Analysis.
• Economics: A book I've glanced at before is Macroeconomics by S. D. Williamson.

Preferred Contact Methods

The easiest way to contact your instructor directly is to use the    Inbox, located in the far left Canvas menu.

You can also contact your instructor via email at clarke.davida@gmail.com

Office Hours

The instructor will hold office hours according to the following schedule:

Day(s): Wednesday

Time(s): 12:00-14:00

Your performance in this course will be evaluated by:

• Pre-class reading quizzes: Before each class I'll have you read something, usually from the textbook. There will be a short quiz on the reading, due midnight the day before each class. Starting Week 2, every week, there will be a quiz due Monday at midnight and on Wednesday at midnight. The quizzes consist of a few short-response questions, and I will grade somewhat leniently. Their purpose is to get you in the mood for the upcoming class discussion and for me to see what you know before class starts.
• Homework: Each week there will be a homework assignment. It will consist of a handful of quantitative questions. Some of them will come from the book. Starting Week 2, every Tuesday, there will be a homework assignment due at class time. Each homework is graded out of ten points.
• Research project: There will be a project due the last week of class. I will give more details about the project part way through the year, but the idea will be to have you examine a few methods of making a house more energy efficient. You will estimate the impact each method has on the environment and see whether the house can save any money in the process.
• Midterms and final: There will be a midterm and a final exam. These will be conceptual and quantitative exams to ensure you have met the course goals. The midterm is on Tue, 17 Oct. 2023 from 10:45-12:05 and the final is on Tue, 12 Dec. 2023 from 10:30-12:30.
  
  

If you think I have made a mistake grading, please let me know! You can tell me in person or use anything in the "Communication" section. If it's a mistake that affects everyone, I'll make sure to update everyone's grades. Such corrections will only serve to increase grades, never decrease them.

Pre-class reading quizzes will be given on Canvas. Homework should be turned in at class time, but I'm flexible to receive it via email in case something comes up.

No late quizzes will be accepted. Late homework will be accepted at a 3-point (out of 10) penalty.

Grading for this course

The weighting for assignments is given on the right. Pre-class quizzes are graded on a 3-point scale, and homeworks are graded on a 10-point scale. The midterm and final are graded out of 100 points. The final grade you receive for the class is computed using either the final only or both the midterm and the final, whichever is more beneficial to you. For more details, see the pdf version of the syllabus.

Improving your homework grade

Since homework makes up 50% of the grade, I decided I would like to give the opportunity to give back lost points. If you performed a calculation incorrectly, or answered it incorrectly: You can get lost points back by presenting a correct solution to me during office hours. If you can't make it during my office hours, we can schedule a time together. You will still have to take a 3-point penalty for late work, though. That is, the maximum possible grade for a late homework will always be 7/10.

Improving your  pre-class quiz grade

The pre-class quizzes are meant to be lenient. If you want to correct a mistake you made, you should be able to add a comment to your graded quiz. I can then update your score if you answer correctly. Canvas doesn't seem to notify me when I get comments, so please send me an email if you do this.

University of Utah grading scale

Disclaimer

Accommodations will be considered on an individual basis and may require documentation.

Please contact your instructor and/or teaching assistant as soon as possible (preferably shortly before the semester begins) to request accommodations of any kind.

Extreme personal circumstances

Please contact your instructor as soon as possible if an extreme personal circumstance
(hospitalization, death of a close relative, natural disaster, etc.) is interfering with your ability to
complete your work.

Religious Practice

To request an accommodation for religious practices, contact your instructor at the beginning of the semester.

Active Duty Military

If you are a student on active duty with the military and experience issues that prevent you from participating in the course because of deployment or service responsibilities, contact your instructor as soon as possible to discuss appropriate accommodations.

Disability Access

All written information in this course can be made available in an alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services (CDS). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. Prior notice is appreciated. To read the full accommodations policy for the University of Utah, please see Section Q of the Instruction & Evaluation regulations.

If you will need accommodations in this class, contact:

Center for Disability Services
  801-581-5020
  disability.utah.edu
  162 Union Building
    200 S. Central Campus Dr.
     Salt Lake City, UT 84112

This syllabus is not a contract. It is meant to serve as an outline and guide for your course. Please note that your instructor may modify it to accommodate the needs of your class.

You will be notified of any changes to the Syllabus.

Though the online format allows students greater flexibility to complete their work, this course does have a structure and timeline! As such, the following is expected of all students in this class:

• Students must be self-motivated, organized, and willing to stay on top of their schedules. Students should take control of their learning while in this course.
• Students are expected to follow the Core Rules of Netiquette at all times while participating in the class and communicating with others.
• Students will log in to the course a minimum of 3 times per week.
• Students are not expected to interact with their classmates in person. Students may be expected to work with classmates via online communication options like Canvas Discussions, video conferencing, or other communication technologies of choice (Zoom, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, etc).
• Students will regularly check for course updates and will update their Canvas notification settings to ensure they receive timely notifications from the course.
• Students will contact their instructor or teaching assistant promptly if they have any questions, are struggling with course materials, or need further assistance from their instructor.
  • If you do not hear back within 3 days after sending a message, please contact your instructor/TA again.
• Students will follow all official University of Utah policies regarding interpersonal conduct, academic dishonesty, and other rights and responsibilities of students outlined in the University of Utah Student Handbook and Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
  • If you have any questions about this, please contact the Dean of Students.

Your course instructor is an expert in the topics you will learn about this semester. Your instructor is your mentor and facilitator of the classroom experience, aided by teaching assistants. Instructors are committed to:

• The instructor will design the course to include lectures, learning materials, and assignments that are accessible and provide students with opportunities to learn and practice course content.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will ensure that the course remains a safe space where students can engage with difficult content thoughtfully and respectfully.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will interact with the class regularly via announcements, virtual office hours (one-on-one video conferencing), emails/the Canvas Inbox, feedback on assignments, and comments on Discussions, among other methods.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will respond to students promptly: within 48 hours, not including weekends and holidays.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will be available for an individual consultation via virtual office hours (one-on-one video conferencing), email, or phone and will not require students to meet in person.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will provide relevant feedback promptly.
• The instructor and teaching assistants will follow all official University of Utah policies regarding interpersonal conduct, accommodations, and other important duties.