ENERGY AND MATTER II
- Education
- 300 level
- 2 credit units
- 84 pages
- 11 units
This course expands on SED 224 (Energy and Matter I) and provides a deeper understanding of energy's uses in agriculture, industry, and homes. It covers thermal, light, and nuclear energy, focusing on their applications and impacts. The course also explores entropy, radiation, and their effects on life and weather, emphasizing the importance of energy in human development and the environment.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 45 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical
- Practical work
- No
- SED224: Energy and Matter I
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assessments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of SED328, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
- Unit 1 Thermal (Heat) Energy its Generation and UsesPage 1
- Unit 2: Light Energy: Its Generation and UsesPage 6
- UNIT 3: Solar Energy and its UsesPage 12
- Unit 4 Nuclear Energy: Its Meaning and ProductionPage 18
- Unit 5: Uses and Advantages of Nuclear EnergyPage 25
- Unit 6: The Disadvantages of Nuclear EnergyPage 30
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
SED328 · Unit 1 Thermal (Heat) Energy its Generation and Uses
Coal has been a useful fuel for generating electricity for many decades because it is relatively cheap and available. Coal is in plentiful supply worldwide which generally makes its price and availability reliable.
What you should be able to do
- Explain the principles and applications of thermal, light, and nuclear energy.
- Define entropy and apply it to physical and chemical processes.
- Describe the different types of radiation and their properties.
- Analyze the effects of radiation on life, weather, and the environment.
- Discuss the causes and consequences of acid rain and ozone depletion.
- Evaluate the benefits and risks associated with different energy sources.
What it prepares you for
- Environmental Scientist
- Energy Analyst
- Sustainability Manager
- Radiation Safety Officer
- Climate Change Consultant
- Renewable Energy
- Environmental Protection
- Nuclear Power
- Climate Science
- Industrial Manufacturing
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 1: Thermal, Light and Nuclear Energy
Unit 4: Nuclear energy, meaning and production
Understanding the process of nuclear fission and fusion requires grasping complex concepts of atomic structure and energy release.
- Module 2: Entropy and Radiation
Unit 2: Application of entropy in physical and chemical processes
Applying the concept of entropy to chemical and physical processes requires understanding thermodynamics and statistical probability.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 28 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Thermal, Light and Nuclear Energy
Unit 1: Thermal (heat) energy, its generation and uses · 2 hours
Define thermal energy and its relationship to the movement of atoms and molecules.. Identify various methods for generating thermal energy, such as burning fuels and using electricity.. Discuss the applications of thermal energy in cooking, heating, electricity generation, and industrial processes..
- Week 2Module 1: Thermal, Light and Nuclear Energy
Unit 2: Light energy, its generation and uses · 2 hours
Describe light energy as a form of electromagnetic radiation and its role in enabling sight.. Explain the generation of light energy from sources like the sun, stars, and electrical energy.. Discuss the uses of light energy in photosynthesis, providing warmth, and powering machines..
- Week 3Module 1: Thermal, Light and Nuclear Energy
Unit 3: Solar energy and its uses · 2 hours
Define solar energy and its importance as an inexhaustible source of energy.. Explain the sun's role as the chief source of energy for the earth and its inhabitants.. Discuss the direct and indirect applications of solar energy, including hydroelectric power, windmill power, and solar cells..
- Week 4Module 1: Thermal, Light and Nuclear Energy
Unit 4: Nuclear energy, meaning and production · 2 hours
Define nuclear energy and explain its production through nuclear fission and fusion.. Describe the role of protons, neutrons, and electrons in nuclear reactions.. Write typical nuclear fission reactions and explain the energy release process..
- Week 5Module 1: Thermal, Light and Nuclear Energy
Unit 5: Uses and advantages of nuclear energy · 2 hours
List the uses of nuclear energy in various fields, including agriculture, spacecrafts, and medicine.. Discuss the advantages of nuclear energy, such as lower greenhouse gas emissions and high efficiency.. Explain the problems associated with nuclear energy, such as waste management and the risk of accidents..
- Week 6Module 1: Thermal, Light and Nuclear Energy
Unit 6: The disadvantages of nuclear energy · 2 hours
Discuss the disadvantages and problems associated with nuclear energy, including nuclear waste management and the risk of accidents.. Explain the potential for nuclear energy to be diverted for harmful purposes, such as nuclear weapons.. Debate the role of nuclear power in the modern world, considering its benefits and risks..
- Week 7Module 2: Entropy and Radiation
Unit 1: Change of states and entropy · 2 hours
Explain the concept of entropy as a measure of disorder in a system.. Describe how entropy is affected by changes in temperature and state.. Discuss the second law of thermodynamics and its implications for entropy..
- Week 8Module 2: Entropy and Radiation
Unit 2: Application of entropy in physical and chemical processes · 2 hours
Illustrate the application of entropy in physical processes, such as the expansion of a gas.. Illustrate the application of entropy in chemical processes, such as chemical reactions.. Discuss the role of entropy in predicting the direction of chemical reactions..
- Week 9Module 2: Entropy and Radiation
Unit 3: Radiation · 2 hours
Define radiation and differentiate between primary and secondary particles.. Explain electromagnetic radiation and the electromagnetic spectrum.. Discuss the properties of alpha, beta, and gamma rays..
- Week 10Module 2: Entropy and Radiation
Unit 4: Effect of radiation on life and weather I · 2 hours
Differentiate between primary and secondary pollutants.. Enumerate the health and environmental effects of primary and secondary pollutants.. Explain how particulate matter affects human health..
- Week 11Module 2: Entropy and Radiation
Unit 5: Effect of radiation on life and weather II · 2 hours
Explain the formation of acid rain and describe the process of acid deposition.. Discuss the beneficial and harmful effects of ozone.. List steps to protect the environment from acid rain and the effects of ozone depletion on humans..
- Week 12Module 1: Thermal, Light and Nuclear Energy
Module 1 Review and Assignments · 3 hours
Review all units from Module 1.. Work on assignments related to thermal, light and nuclear energy.. Participate in online discussions to clarify concepts..
- Week 13Module 2: Entropy and Radiation
Module 2 Review and Assignments · 3 hours
Review all units from Module 2.. Work on assignments related to entropy and radiation.. Participate in online discussions to clarify concepts..
Preparing for the exam
- Create concept maps linking Units 1-3 energy types and applications.
- Practice balancing nuclear equations from Unit 4 weekly.
- Review the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy from Units 5-6.
- Summarize the key properties of radiation types from Unit 3 using tables.
- Outline the steps in acid rain formation from Unit 5 and their environmental impacts.
- Focus on understanding the relationship between entropy, enthalpy, and free energy from Module 2.
- Review all TMAs and Self-Assessment Exercises, paying close attention to areas where you struggled.
Questions students ask about this course
What is SED328 about?
This course expands on SED 224 (Energy and Matter I) and provides a deeper understanding of energy's uses in agriculture, industry, and homes. It covers thermal, light, and nuclear energy, focusing on their applications and impacts. The course also explores entropy, radiation, and their effects on life and weather, emphasizing the importance of energy in human development and the environment.
How many units does SED328 have?
SED328, ENERGY AND MATTER II, has 11 units across 2 modules, over 84 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is SED328?
SED328 carries 2 credit units, at 300 level in Education.
Is SED328 hard?
SED328 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical work.
How long does SED328 take to study?
About 45 hours of study, spread across its 11 units.
How is SED328 assessed?
SED328 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assessments and Final Examination.
What do I need before starting SED328?
SED224: Energy and Matter I
What can I do with SED328?
Environmental Scientist, Energy Analyst, Sustainability Manager, Radiation Safety Officer and Climate Change Consultant.