The Carnot Cycle is utilized in the production of most of the electricity produced in America. It is very efficient when used on a massive scale. For this discussion, familiarize yourself with the Carnot Cycle.

After thoroughly reviewing the Carnot Cycle, write a thoughtful, complete, but concise response to the following:

1. Explain the Carnot Cycle and its relative efficiencies.

2. Why is the Carnot Cycle utilized in large power plants?

When gas is cooled, it contracts, that is, its volume decreases. Absolute zero is largely a theoretical temperature. Scientists have been able to get very close, but due to certain fundamental laws of physics achieving true absolute zero is likely impossible.

After reviewing the ideal gas law and the concept of absolute zero, write a thoughtful, complete, but concise response to the following:

1. Is the volume of an ideal gas really zero if cooled to absolute zero?

Hydrogen Economy
In his 2003 State of the Union address, former President Bush announced that the United States
would develop a hydrogen economy. Specifically he said1
[…] Tonight Im proposing $1.2 billion in research funding so that America can lead the
world in developing clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles. A simple chemical reaction between
hydrogen and oxygen generates energy, which can be used to power a car, producing only water,
not exhaust fumes. With a new national commitment, our scientists and engineers will overcome
obstacles to taking these cars from laboratory to showroom, so that the first car driven by a child
born today could be powered by hydrogen, and pollution-free. Join me in this important
innovation to make our air significantly cleaner, and our country much less dependent on foreign
sources of energy. […]
Write a short essay (one page) in which you discuss the following:
What is the general idea behind a hydrogen economy? What misconceptions do some people
have about such an economy? Could it help to make the US (or any other country) much less
dependent on other sources of energy? What might be the obstacles that Bush alluded to?
If you wish, you can use the posted word-template for this essay, as well as for future essays.
This template will also automatically remind you what information you should put on your
homework sheet.

Physics and Technology for Future Presidents An Introduction to the Essential Physics Every World Leader Needs to Know
Richard A. Muller

USE THIS BOOK IN ESSAY as I did not manage to extract a copy of it . This is our defualt book so no in text citations required. However citations are mandatory for outer sources

Hydrogen Economy
In his 2003 State of the Union address, former President Bush announced that the United States
would develop a hydrogen economy. Specifically he said1
[…] Tonight Im proposing $1.2 billion in research funding so that America can lead the
world in developing clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles. A simple chemical reaction between
hydrogen and oxygen generates energy, which can be used to power a car, producing only water,
not exhaust fumes. With a new national commitment, our scientists and engineers will overcome
obstacles to taking these cars from laboratory to showroom, so that the first car driven by a child
born today could be powered by hydrogen, and pollution-free. Join me in this important
innovation to make our air significantly cleaner, and our country much less dependent on foreign
sources of energy. […]
Write a short essay (one page) in which you discuss the following:
What is the general idea behind a hydrogen economy? What misconceptions do some people
have about such an economy? Could it help to make the US (or any other country) much less
dependent on other sources of energy? What might be the obstacles that Bush alluded to?
If you wish, you can use the posted word-template for this essay, as well as for future essays.
This template will also automatically remind you what information you should put on your
homework sheet.

Physics and Technology for Future Presidents An Introduction to the Essential Physics Every World Leader Needs to Know
Richard A. Muller

USE THIS BOOK IN ESSAY as I did not manage to extract a copy of it . This is our defualt book so no in text citations required. However citations are mandatory for outer sources

One of the most mysterious times in the history of Earth is that of the “Cambrian Explosion,” when in a short geologic period of time (few millions of years) most of the animal ancestors of all animals alive today (including humans) suddenly appeared.  Why did the “Cambrian Explosion” happen at the time it happened when no event like it happened before it for billions of years of Earth’s history?  It is too mysterious that all happened right at the Cambrian in a quick geologic time, and, further, if not for this event no animal we are familiar with today would exist (including us).  What really caused the Cambrian Explosion?  Was this a random event or a well explained phenomenon?  Can a Cambrian Explosion happen twice?  Can it happen on other planets?  Hasn’t our planet experience many Cambrian-Explosion-life events after the Cambrian Explosion itself?  What is this an “explosion”?

Watch the video posted in our week 5 module (youtube video’s URL link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5_XLVqrTlM) and investigate and write an essay about the Cambrian Explosion.  The questions provided above are to motivate you to investigate about this topic; you do not need to answer them one by one. The essay must be at least four paragraphs long, and each paragraph must contain at least five sentences (you can write more than four paragraphs and more than five sentences per paragraph if you wish to do so).  The content of your essay must be written entirely in your OWN words.  Use in-text citations in parenthesis, APA style, if you paraphrase information from other authors.  Paraphrasing is not copy-pasting or copying and changing a few words from other authors’ writings – it is writing it in your OWN words to explain the authors’ writings.  Only when necessary, you can quote, but these quotes do not count towards the last tally of the number of paragraphs and sentences required from your OWN writing.  You must at least consult three references to investigate about this topic and must list these three references (can include the video as one of them) at the end of your essay (use APA style).

This is the next step in your final assignment. In week 2, you chose a topic. Now, you will start gathering more information and organizing it. To assist you in this, the template below will outline all the areas you need to cover for this week. If in doubt, ask your instructor and examine the assignment instructions for the module 8 final assignment.

Download the template herePreview the document to complete this assignment.

You should now have a good idea of the information you want to examine for your video presentation on climate change for the high school class, due in module 8.

Next, submit the following:

    The template completed with all the sections filled in with the information you have gathered to date. 

You are expected to do your own research through our library on the topic, beyond what is available in the module. Use the Excelsior Library Resource Guide to find resources on your topic.  Do not forget to include in-text citations and completeAPAstyle references for all sources. TheExcelsior Library Citation Tip Sheets and Resources (Links to an external site.)will be a helpful guide. You may also wish to use a citation generator you just insert the information, and it creates the citation in the format you indicate (MLAor APA, for example). Here are 3 citation generators to choose from:

    Citation Machine (Links to an external site.)
    Bibme (Links to an external site.)
    EasyBib (Links to an external site.)

Compose your work in a .docor .docx file type using a word processor (such as Microsoft Word,etc.) and save it frequently to your computer. For those assignments that are not written essays and require uploading images or PowerPoint slides, please follow uploading guidelines provided by your instructor.

Check your work and correct any spelling or grammatical errors. When you are ready to submit your work, click Upload Submission. Enter the submission title and then click on Select a file to upload. Browse your computer and select your file. Click Open and verify the correct file name has appeared next to Submission File. Click on Continue. Confirm submission is correct and then click on Accept Submission & Save.

Evaluation

This assignment will be graded using the Written Assignment Rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning your work so that you ensure your submission meets the criteria in place for this assignment. This assignment is part of the final project, which is worth 20% of your final course grade. This portion is worth 5% of your total grade