Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Introduction. 2. Energy Mechanics. 3. Conservation of Energy. 4. Heat and Work. 5. Home Energy Conservation and Heat-Transfer Control. 6. Solar Energy: Characteristics and Heating. 7. Energy from Fossil Fuels. 8. Air Pollution and Energy Use. 9. Global Warming, Ozone Depletion, and Waste Heat. 10. Electricity: Circuits and Superconductors. 11. Electromagnetism and the Generation of Electricity. 12. Electricity from Solar, Wind, and Hydro. 13. The Building Blocks of Matter: The Atom and Its Nucleus. 14. Nuclear Power: Fission. 15. Effects and Uses of Radiation. 16. Future Energy Alternatives: Fusion. 17. Biomass: From Plants to Garbage. 18. Tapping the Earth's Heat: Geothermal Energy. 19. A National and Personal Commitment. Appendices. Glossary. Index.

What is the impact of energy issues such as lobal warming, radioactive waste, municipal solid waste, and nuclear energy production materials on the individual and society? ENERGY: ITS USE AND THE ENVIRONMENT emphasizes the physical principles behind energy and its effects on our environment, explaining the basic physical principles behind the use of energy, including the study of mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, and atomic and nuclear physics. By placing energy issues within the context of everyday examples and asking you to define and support critical arguments, ENERGY: ITS USE AND THE ENVIRONMENT offers a provocative approach to this crucial issue.