Physics of Energy Sources; Contents; Editors preface to the Manchester Physics Series; Authors preface; 1 Introduction; 1.1 Energy consumption; 1.2 Energy sources; 1.3 Renewable and non-renewable energy sources; 1.4 The form and conversion of energy; 1.4.1 Thermal energy sources; 1.4.2 Mechanical energy sources; 1.4.3 Photovoltaic sources; 1.4.4 Energy storage; Problems 1; 2 The atomic nucleus; 2.1 The composition and properties of nuclei; 2.1.1 The composition of nuclei; 2.1.2 The size of a nucleus; 2.1.3 The distributions of nuclear matter and charge; 2.1.4 The mass of a nucleus.
3.2.2 Q-value of a nuclear reaction3.2.3 Reaction cross-sections and reaction rates; 3.3 Nuclear fission; 3.3.1 Liquid-drop model of nuclear fission; 3.3.2 Induced nuclear fission; 3.3.3 Fission cross-sections; 3.3.4 Fission reactions and products; 3.3.5 Energy in fission; 3.3.6 Moderation of fast neutrons; 3.3.7 Uranium enrichment; 3.4 Controlled fission reactions; 3.4.1 Chain reactions; 3.4.2 Control of fission reactions; 3.4.3 Fission reactors; 3.4.4 Commercial nuclear reactors; 3.4.5 Nuclear waste; 3.5 Nuclear fusion; 3.5.1 Fusion reactions; 3.5.2 Energy in fusion.
3.5.3 Coulomb barrier for nuclear fusion3.5.4 Fusion reaction rates; 3.5.5 Performance criteria; 3.5.6 Controlled thermonuclear fusion; Problems 3; 4 Solar power; 4.1 Stellar fusion; 4.1.1 Star formation and evolution; 4.1.2 Thermonuclear fusion in the Sun: the proton-proton cycle; 4.1.3 Solar radiation; 4.2 Blackbody radiation; 4.2.1 Laws of blackbody radiation; 4.2.2 Emissivity; 4.2.3 Birth of the photon; 4.3 Solar radiation and its interaction with the Earth; 4.3.1 Characteristics of solar radiation; 4.3.2 Interaction of solar radiation with Earth and its atmosphere.
4.3.3 Penetration of solar energy into the ground4.4 Geothermal energy; 4.4.1 Shallow geothermal energy; 4.4.2 Deep geothermal energy; 4.5 Solar heaters; 4.5.1 Solar water heaters; 4.5.2 Heat transfer processes; 4.5.3 Solar thermal power systems; 4.6 Heat engines: converting heat into work; 4.6.1 Equation of state of an ideal gas; 4.6.2 Internal energy, work and heat: the first law of thermodynamics; 4.6.3 Specific heats of gases; 4.6.4 Isothermal and adiabatic expansion; 4.6.5 Heat engines and the second law of thermodynamics; Problems 4; 5 Semiconductor solar cells; 5.1 Introduction.