The Rise of Big Energy: A History of Fossil Fuels
- Course Number: E1007
- Credits: 2 hours
- Instructor: Ellen Huang, PE
- Price: $20
Course Outline
Understanding our energy supply is especially important in today’s day and age, in which runaway carbon emissions threaten our atmosphere and environment. In order to better comprehend our current situation, we turn to the past to learn how we got here. This course will explain the rise of coal, oil, and natural gas via the spread of steam engines, railroads, and motor cars. It focuses on energy supply in Britain and in the U.S. and also covers the dynamics of energy supply on a global scale.
At the end of this course, there will be a multiple-choice, open-book quiz, which is designed to enhance your understanding of the course material.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Know the history of the steam engine;
- Understand the general principles behind the steam engine;
- Understand how steam locomotives influenced coal production;
- Understand how automobiles influenced oil usage;
- Become familiar with the rise of oil in the U.S. and the expansion of oil companies.
- Become familiar with the production and transportation of natural gas; and
- Understand the impact of fossil fuels on modern society.