A textbook that can also serve as a general introduction for general readers to the role of energy in human society since the first use of fire. Except for a chapter on human energy, animal energy is not considered. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Guides the reader through the various energy sources available to humans and how we implement them. The book is intended for readers who do not have a science and technology background; it serves as an introduction to work, energy and efficiency. Examples range from human's earliest work endeavors such as building pyramids to the inspiration and development of Henry Ford's first automobile up through alternative energy sources. Also, among the many topics covered are: energy, work, and power; combustion for home comfort; the steam engine; how electricity is generated; boilers and heat transfer; cars and their impact; atoms and atomic energy; Three Mile Island and Chernobyl; Acid rain; smog; nuclear fusion; the greenhouse effect; and much, much more.
