MAE 118A: Introduction to Energy Systems – Syllabus

 

Update 1: Study Guide for the course is online.

Update 2: Supplementary text on "Market Penetration of New Energy Technologies" is available.

Exam solutions and statistics are posted at the page titled, "Quizzes and Solutions"

 

Instructors:     Prof. George Tynan

                           Office:   457 EBU2                                      

                           Phone:   534-9724                                      

                           E-mail: gtynan@ucsd.edu                               

                           Office Hours:   Friday 830am-1100am

           

                      

Teaching Assistant: 

 

                        Kowsik Bodi

                        Email:  kbodi@ucsd.edu

                        Office hours:  2:00pm -- 3:30pm on Mondays and Tuesdays in #105, EBU2

                       

 

Locations and Lecture Schedule:

 

                        Lectures:  Center Hall 216 MWF 1100am-1150am

                       

                           

 

VERY IMPORTANT: For email contact with the instructor or TA please put ÒMAE 118AÓ first in the subject of the email.  We receive many emails each day, and this helps to avoid us not seeing or reading your messages.

 

Course Objective:

 

Introduce students to the historical usage and near-term trends of global energy consumption.  Overview of fossil fuels resources, combustion processes, heat engines and conversion efficiencies. 

 

Texts and Resources:

 

  • Energy and the Environment, by Fay and Golumg, Oxford Press (class textbook)

 

 

  • US Energy Information Agency Annual Energy Outlook (see class website)

 

  • International Energy Outlook  (see class website)

 

  • Supplemental Lecture Notes and Web Links Posted to the Class website

  

 

Assumed Background:

Senior standing in engineering or physical sciences or equivalent.  A basic understanding of elementary physics and thermodynamics is assumed, as is a background in calculus.  Interested students with other backgrounds or major fields should speak with instructor before enrolling.

 

Grading:

In-class quizzes: 30%

Midterm: 35%

Final: 35%

 

There will be 6-7 homework assignments which are considered essential learning tools in the class; however these assignments are neither collected nor count towards your grade.  Students are encouraged to work out the basic approach to homework solutions together.  There will be about 6-7 quizes which will be given at the beginning of class and will take about 10 minutes to complete.  These quizzes will be based upon the homework assignments, will be announced ahead of time and will contribute 30% towards the final grade.  There will be no makeups allowed on these quizzes.  All quizzes will be closed book, closed notes, no calculators or any other electronic devices.  The lowest quiz score wll be dropped from the studentÕs final grade calculation.

 

A midterm and a final exam will count for 35% each towards the final grade.  The midterm time will be announced well ahead of time in class.  Final exam will occur on the posted time listed in the Schedule of Classes.  Both exams will be closed book, closed notes, no calculators or any other electronic devices will be permitted.

 

Remark on Office Hours: 

You are welcome to go over anything from class during office hours, including general ideas and methods for solving particular problems.  You should come prepared - that means that you have reviewed the relevant notes, you have done the assigned reading, and you have gone over any example problems that were provided.  If you need help with a specific problem, you should bring the work you have been able to do.

 

Regrades:

If you believe that there is a mistake in grading, describe the error in writing and give the quiz or exam back to the instructor.  Regrades are accepted for one week after graded work is returned to you, so, for example, if you receive an exam back on a Thursday, the last day to request a regrade is on the following Thursday.  No regrades will be considered more than one week after the quiz or exam is returned.

 

Academic Integrity:

The professor take the principles of academic honesty very seriously, and expects you to read and understand the campus policy on Integrity of Scholarship, which is linked electronically here:

 

http://www-senate.ucsd.edu/manual/appendices/app2.htm#AP14. 

 

You are free to discuss assignments with the instructors, the TAs, and your fellow students – in fact talking about ideas and approaches is a good way to learn the material.   Plagiarism and other forms of neglecting to give credit for other peoplesÕ ideas are strictly prohibited. Please speak with the instructor if you have any questions about academic honesty or if you observe any questionable behaviors in class.  Any violation of the UCSD Policy on Integrity of Scholarship will follow the established UCSD review procedures.