The Simple Physics of Energy Use, Second Edition

by Peter Rez

Overview

Our modern standard of living depends on the transformation of energy from sources like fossil fuels, atomic nuclei, the sun, and wind into usable forms. This book examines the fundamental physics behind energy use that is crucial in our daily lives.

Amid widespread discussions about the potentially harmful and irreversible impact of CO₂ emissions on climate change, is the potential of renewable energy sources like solar and wind to replace fossil fuels. The Simple Physics of Energy Use 2nd Edition questions the feasibility of this transition. What does fundamental physics reveal about the practicality of this solution? Is it realistic to eliminate CO₂ emissions rather than reduce them? Inspired by modern media debate, this book provides thought-provoking problems based on real-world proposals.

Examining three key aspects of energy use in modern life: environmental control in buildings, transportation of people and goods, and manufacturing, this new edition provides a comprehensive overview of the subject. It also offers an in-depth exploration of electrical power generation and the use of simple algebra provides a clear, big-picture perspective that highlights significant factors in understanding the physics of energy use. This is a key text for readers interested in the origins and applications of the energy we rely on.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198948940
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	12/30/2025
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

About the Author

Peter Rez, Department of Physics, Arizona State University

Peter Rez was an undergraduate at Cambridge Univeristy and received his doctorate at Oxford Univeristy. His expertise is in the physics of electron and X-ray scattering, mainly applied to electron microscopy and spectroscopy but also applied to radiation detectors and medical physics. He has also worked on modeling of battery and other materials. This lead to work on normal biomineralization, the formation of calcite shells. He has also commented on issues where physics affects society at large, both in the deployment of X-ray based body scanners at airports (since abandoned) and more recently on energy policy and climate science.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition Introduction 1. Energy and Society Part I Controlling the Indoor Environment 2. Buildings 3. Electrical Power Generation: Fossil Fuels 4. Nuclear Power Generation 5. Electrical Power Distribution 6. Electrical Power Generation: Renewables-Solar and Wind 7. Electrical Power Generation: Hydroelectricity, Tides, and Pumped Storage Part II Moving People and Things Around 8. Transportation: Fuel Energies 9. Ground Transportation: Road and Rail 10. Air Transportation 11. Ground Transportation: Ships Part III Making Stuff 12. Materials that Come from the Earth 13. Agriculture: Things that Are Grown 14. Embodied Energy and Energy Return on Investment 15. Summary-What Should Be Done? Appendix A Energy Used by Different Countries, from the BP Statistical Review Appendix B Thermodynamic Relations Appendix C Ground Source Heat Pumps Appendix D1 Appendix D2 Ultimate Efficiency of Photovoltaic Cell Appendix D3 Maximum Power of Photovoltaic Cell Appendix E Betz's Law Appendix F Hydrogen Leakage Appendix G1 Optimal Airspeeds Appendix G2 The Rocket Equation Appendix H Units Factors of 10