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Some of the Physics of Energy

There is World-Wide Nearly-Unanimous Professional-Agreement about almost all of the following statements about The-Physics-of-Energy.

01. There are many forms-of-energy; so there are many units-for-measuring how-much-energy there is in each form-of-energy within a local-volume-of-space.

02. Energy-can-change into various-other-forms --- that always total to exactly the same-original-amount within an isolated-volume-of-space.

03. Some forms-of-energy are more-concentrated-forms-of-energy than other forms-of-energy; and so are easier-for-humans-to-use.

04. Using any concentrated-form-of-energy changges-the-energy into less-concentrated-forms-of-energy.

05. The following are the available common-forms-of-energy-sources, listed in descending order of energy-concentration-and-utility:

06. The energy-potential of nuclear-fusion; e.g., of converting hydrogen nuclei into helium and lithium nuclei.

07. The energy-potential of nuclear-fission; e.g., of converting U-235 and/or P-239 nuclei into many smaller nuclei.

08. The energy-potential of converting hydro-carbon compounds into Carbon-Di-Oxide and high-temperature-water by burning them; e.g., oil, coal and plants.

09. The energy-potential of large-temperature-differences between close-together-substances; e.g., high-temperature-steam and cold-water or ice.

10. The energy-potential of large-differences-in-pressures between gases contained by constraining containers made by nature or by humans.

11. The partially concentrated-energy of naturally occuring molten-rocks, steam, and hot-water-flows in oceans and under-ground.

12. Investing some concentrated-energy to concentrate more Ocean and Geo-thermal low-temperature energy into higher-temperature-concentrated-energy.

13. Investing some concentrated-energy to concentrate PLENTIFUL-AND-ENDURIN-SUN-LIGHT into More-Concentrated-forms-of-Energy; e.g., Steam and Electricity.

14. Investing already-concentrated energy to create some convenient-concentrated-energy-potentials of separated Hydrogen and Oxygen atoms.

15. Investing alrerady-concentrated energy to concentrate FORMER-PLENTIFUL-SUNLIGHT via hydro-electric-power-stations into electrically-transmitted-energy.

16. Investing already-concentrated energy to concentrate nature's-OCEAN-TIDES-AND-WAVES into concentrated hydro-electric-power transmitted-electrically.

17. All mining and mineral-purification-processes are accomplished by investing already-concentrated energy --- to accomplish the processes.

18. All manufacturing-and-recycling-processes are accomplished by investing already-concentrated energy --- to accomplish the processes.

19. All transport-processes by all modes of transport are accomplished by investing already-concentrated energy --- to accomplish the processes.

20. All human-activities/investments turn concentrated-forms-of-energy into less-concentrated-forms-of-energy --- which are less-useful-to-humans.

21. We can agree on reasonable least-upper-bounds for the finite amounts of available-concentrated-forms-of-fossil-fuel-energy within Space-Ship-Earth.

22. We can helpfully-estimate how long those finite amounts of fossil-fuel-energy will last under exponential-growths in our rates-of-use-of-them.

23. Our rates-of-use of available-concentrated-forms-of-fossil-fuel-energy WILL DECLINE soon after EACH FORM is HALF-GONE. We cannot prevent that!

24. There is a finite- rate at which waste-low-temperature-energy can be radiated into interstellar space for each average-temperature of Space-Ship-Earth.

25. If we exceed that finite rate in creating waste-heat-energy --- there will Ultimately be Catastrophic RUNAWAY Global-Warming, roasting Earth like Venus.

25. Those-finite-rates depend-critically upon the concentrations of Carbon-Di-Oxide and Other-Gases that-we-put into the Atmosphere of Space-Ship-Earth

26. The ways in which Space-Ship-Earth has been kept livable are delicately balanced among many complexly-interacting interde-pendent influences.

27. We do not fully know/understand the many complex inter-acting independent influences. Our ignorance exceeds our knowledge and understanding.

28. In the face of the above --- caution, prudence, patience and cooperation are in order among all members of the Crew of Space-Ship-Earth.

29. We cannot respond wisely/prudently to the Global Energy Crisis while ignoring the above reliable statements and what they point to.

30. Profound/Tragic: psycological, political, religious and theological Problems-and-Dilemmas may keep-us from attending-to the above reliable-statements.

Document: Physics-of-Energy-20060314 Last edited on 2006/03/14 By: Dr. Paul A. Smith, Professor Emeritus of Physics, Coe College

The following Resource are noted on the "The Oil Age Poster"

Association for the study of Peak Oil www.peakoil.net BP Statistical Survey www.bp.com Energy Bulletin www.energybulletin.net Energy Information Agency www.eia.doe.gov Global Public Media www.globalpublicmedia.com International Energy Agency www.iea.org Oil and Gas Journal http://ogj.pennent.com <== exact Oil Depletion Analysis Center www.odac-info.org Post Carbon Institute www.postcarbon.org

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