Residential monthly electricity bills provided by students in physics classes served as data for a project designed to help them develop a sense of scale for electric energy consumption referenced to their own electric lifestyles and insight into how these lifestyles depend heavily on various naturally occurring terrestrial hydrocarbon resources.…

It is shown that highly elliptical orbits, such as those of comets, can be explained well in terms of energy rather than forces. The principle of conservation of energy allows a comet's velocity to be calculated at aphelion and perihelion. An example asks students to calculate whether they can run fast enough to escape from a small asteroid.…

A review of the technology and uses of solar energy for heating, cooling, and power production is given. (MDR)

Explores the possibility of installing offshore windmills to provide electricity and to save fuel for the United Kingdom. Favors their deployment in clusters to facilitate supervision and minimize cost. Discusses the power output and the cost involved and urges their quick development. (GA)

Explains the function of a central heating system and calculates the total heat energy required to heat a house. Estimates annual heat requirement and amount of fuel needed. Gives detailed calculation of heat required for a particular house as an example. (G A)

In addition to two misapprehensions, that the earth is uninvolved in many physical phenomena and that it is infinite and unmoving, physics students often believe that the earth, without expending energy, can push things along its surface, giving rise to accelerations. (MLH)

Fourth-year students in eight classes were tested over a three-year period to determine the ease or difficulty with which they learned the conservation principle. A major focus was on ideas they held about the nature of energy before beginning the course. Results and implications for physics instruction are presented. (JN)

This article examines an amusing application of the concept of kinetic energy. Using some rudimentary physical notions, we have analysed the energetics of the motion of Santa Claus. The results, which are quite surprising, can be of interest to high school and early college physics educators when they teach kinetic energy, and energy conservation…

Discusses the controversy over the development of nuclear power for civilian use. Answers some of the concerns regarding safety considerations, stating that misunderstanding is the reason for the exhibited negative attitudes. (GA)

Presents a long-term energy policy, to ensure a stable world civilization in the next century, that requires the developed nations to lower their energy consumption to the present world average. (GA)

Investigated the extent to which 28 academically able students used energy conservation ideas in solving written and practical problems. Interviews show problems they had in understanding and using the concepts of work and energy and that the idea of energy conservation was rarely used spontaneously in relevant situations. (JN)

Describes a multi-project pack on central heating systems, developed into an educational game, used for teaching a variety of subjects in high school. The students examine the basic decision to install a central heating system, for a particular house, and the economics involved. (GA)

Suggests an approach which treats the electric circuit as a channel through which energy flows and to which the application of energy conservation makes the distinction between electromotive force and potential difference unnecessary. Equations, examples, and visual representations are included. (RT)

Critiques the "energy circus," an approach to the introduction of ideas of energy transformation and conservation which is in common use in secondary schools. Identifies some practical and conceptual difficulties and outlines an alternative approach used in introducing ideas about energy using real devices and arrow notation. (CW)

Describes three case studies of the use of the Learning in Science Project (Energy) in New Zealand. Themes discussed include systems undergoing change, defining initial and final conditions, energy as a nonmaterial factor of change, forms of energy and conservation of energy. Mentions other issues and research. (CW)