Natural Sciences 116 Energy, High Technology and Society David L. Zellmer, Ph.D. Department of Chemistry California State University, Fresno

NASA-Earth's Limb

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Web Sites of Interest for Science Teachers

Dr. Zellmer retired in May of 2010. The following include sites sent in from readers of this web site since that time.

• Radiation Guide for Kids. http://www.radiologytechnicianschools.com/resources/radiation-guide-for-kids/ Submitted by a 4th grade student in Karen Galvin's class. (December 2010)
• Kid-Safe Experiments Using Plastic Bottles, http://www.polymer-search.com/covalent/kid-safe-experiments.html. Submitted by Myra Radke and her students from Craft Central Schools (December 2011)
• A Home Guide to Kitchen Science Experiments - http://www.designerappliances.com/articles/a-home-guide-to-kitchen-science-experiments/. Submitted by Joan Ward and her student Amy. (February 2013)

• Course Syllabus for Spring 2009
• Presentation Topics for Spring 2009
• Scoring Rubric for Team Presentations

Web Sites of Interest for Spring 2009

• Sid the Science Kid on PBS This new (Fall 2008) PBS television series teaches scientific concepts to preschoolers! The link is to the parents and teachers page. If you want the kid's view, go to http://pbskids.org/sid/
• The Big Energy Gamble, a NOVA program about energy in California that aired on PBS on January 20, 2009. This link is to the NOVA Teacher's page. To view the actual program on-line, go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/energy/program.html
• The Detroit Auto Show, aired on the PBS Newshour on January 19, 2009. The last half of this five-minute segment is about new automobile technologies that automakers plan or are selling now for better fuel efficiency.
• The Agenda for Energy and the Environment from the President Obama White House website.
• Nikola Tesla: Master of Lightning PBS Companion Site . Watch the video on Google Video.
• Check out DragonflyTV, a science show for kids on PBS. Look for the video links on PBSKidsGo.
• YouTube has demonstrations of simple electrical devices that you or your students can build. Take a look at the Simple Electric Motor, and the Electric Generator.
• Links to videos showing past and present space exporation:
  
  Powers of Ten, showing how big space is, as well as the subatomic realm
  Hubble Telescope Deep Space image of 10,000 galaxies
  Apollo 8, first manned trip around the Moon and pictures of Earth as a planet
  Apollo 11, first people to land on the Moon
  Mars Rovers go to Mars and explore the planet.
  Casinni-Huygens tours the solar system, then explores Saturn and Titan
  Assembly of the International Space Station
  A Tour of the International Space Station
  Live video feed from NASA We watched the March 2009 visit of Discovery to the ISS
  
  
• For current information on sources of energy, go to http://www.eia.doe.gov/ and look at the Basic Information area at the lower right corner of their home page.
• The EIA has a section for teachers and students at http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/. Even this has more information than you would ever want to know about energy supplies.
• For a detailed presentation on the state of energy at the end of 2008, you can look at the EIA slide show at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/aeo2009_presentation.html. Unlike presentations of a few years ago, this one shows a substantial future role for alternative energy.
• Is there such a thing as Clean Coal? View the PBS program on Now that aired on April 10, 2009
• Can your car teach you how to be a more efficient driver? Check out this website for the 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid Eco-Assist. Earn those green leaves!
• Visit the REC Solar Learning Center for information about real solar installations for home and business. REC has installed PV systems in the Fresno area.
• Energy Quest from the California Energy Commission is a site for K-6 students. Click on items on their home page for a review of many things covered in this course!
• Does the Obama Administration support ethanol or not? As we were discussing this in class on May 5, 2009, the Associated Press published this article. Read it here .
• Is the Prius now considered "old-fashioned hybrid technology"? Read this article published in Newsweek on May 2, 2009 (May 18 dated issue) on Extended Range Electric Drive Vehicles.
• Is the Chevy Volt still on track for production by GM in November of 2010? Visit the GM-Volt web site for current information. The Volt is a plug-in hybrid configured as an extended range electric vehicle.
• An older program from Scientific American Frontiers of 2004 called Future Car is available here in streaming video, and is still very useful for new car technologies. The "Goodby Gasoline" segment features the GM Hy-Wire hydrogen fuel cell concept car of 2002, which pioneered many of the technologies used in the Chevy Volt. Watch all the segments which cover the earliest production cars, an excellent video of how hybrid cars like the Prius work, and how the hydrogen economy concept might work to reduce dependence on gasoline.
• Cleantech America, Inc. has announced two solar energy projects for the San Joaquin Valley in the multiple megawatt range. These will create both power and jobs. The 5 MW PV solar farm near Mendota is due to come on-line no later than April 2010.
• Saved by the Sun is a Nova program on PBS that gives an excellent overview of current solar technologies. Watch the video and see how countries like Germany are generating a substantial percent of their electricity by solar. There are teacher resources here too.
• Information about the Fresno State Solar Parking Lot is available here from FresnoStateNews.
• Learn more about Zero Energy Homes from this government web site. With a combination of energy-saving devices, good passive solar design, and some active PV panels on your roof, it is possible to have a zero energy bill for the year.
• Solar ovens make great school projects. Visit Making a Solar Oven from the Department of Energy for lesson plans and details.
• Does how we prepare our students for the future make a difference? View the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U.

Course Information for Spring 2008

• Course Syllabus for Spring 2008
• Presentation Topics for Spring 2008
• Scoring Rubric for Team Presentations

Web Sites of Interest for Spring 2008

• Fresno State Solar Parking Lot
• Presidential Candidate Positions on Energy Policy Your instructor does not endorse any particular website for political matters. Be sure to do your own Google search for stands on energy policy. This one from the Council on Foreign Affairs says they are non-partisan. They do keep the information up to date.
• Wired Science on pbs.org is a new program on technology. This web site has videos of past shows, and information for educators.
• Nova is a long-running series on PBS. Their web site has extensive materials for teachers.
• How Stuff Works is a real mainstay of NS116 student presentations. BUT, be sure to look at other sources of information too, since I've seen a lot of the HSW images on powerpoint slides with students just repeating HSW explanations. In Q&A they couldn't explain what they meant. Remember, you need multiple sources for your presentations.
• Joseph Lucido, a local 5th grade science teacher, talks about NCLB testing and learning. Valley Voices from the Fresno Bee, March 8, 2008.
• Compare PBS videos about China "Reving Up" from World in the Balance from 2004, and Global Watch from 2008.
• Find out the revised EPA miles per gallon figures for your car, or research what car gives the lowest pollution and best mpg at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
• Click and Clack from "Car Talk" explore the world of new fuel-efficient, ultralight and electric cars on the Nova Program of 23 April 2008, Car of the Future.
• A slightly older program from Scientific American Frontiers of 2004 called Future Car is available here in streaming video, and is still very useful for new car technologies.
• The GM Technology web site for 2008 tells you about electric and fuel cell cars now under development by this American company.
• Wikipedia has a very good article on Who Killed the Electric Car? Pay special attention to the list of who is guilty and who is not which was taken from the film. Look at the film's take on hydrogen, too.
• In response to a recent student question about why we don't fix things when there are solutions, consider the following article by respected New York Times journalist Tom Friedman on tax incentives for solar and other renewable energy. Published April 30, 2008.
• Here is an article from January 22, 2008 discussing in more detail the specific wind and solar programs that will be affected if federal tax credits are allowed to expire.
• To see what is happening today in California for solar and other energy programs, visit the California Energy Commission. For a summary of data up to 2008 on California Solar Power visit California Solar Power History from Cooler Planet. The current CA website promoting Solar has moved to http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/index.html.

• Course Syllabus for Spring 2007
• Presentation Topics for Spring 2007
• Scoring Rubric for Team Presentations

Web Sites of Interest for Spring 2007

• Wind Power Storage Using Aquifer - how off-peak wind energy can be stored
• Vive les Nukes - A 60 Minutes report on building new nuclear plants using the French as a model - This is a streaming video file. Shown April 8, 2007.
• Leadership and the Environment - A special Newsweek report that features steps led by Governor Schwarzenegger to make California a leader in carbon reduction and green technology. Links to other information are here as well. Published April 10, 2007.
• Chemistry Magazine for Spring 2007 features three articles on the future of Solar Power, Nuclear Power, and Clean Coal Power. There are some big changes ahead.
• Go Solar California is a new website that features a host of energy initiatives in California, including Net Metering and other programs that came out of the recetly approved Million Solar Roofs Program.
• Zero Energy Homes in the Sacramento area. This is from the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), a leader in providing alternative energy for their customers.
• Net Energy Metering from PG&E: Yes, you can add solar panels to your house or business and have your meter spin backwards. This page from PG&E gives details.
• Saved by the Sun, a NOVA program on PBS that aired April 24, 2007. This companion website features some of the latest approaches to solar energy.
• GM Advanced Technology Vehicles: See what GM is up to lately after their Hy-wire fuel cell car of 2002. At the same site, check out their Milestones timeline for fuel cells in the GM line.
• Icelandic New Energy: This web site, direct from Iceland, shows what they are up to today in their quest to move to a Hydrogen Economy.
• Home Fuel Cell Cogeneration Unit: Some Japanese homes have a Ballard fuel cell unit that supplies both electricity and hot water from the natural gas already piped into the house. This article from October 2006 tells how it works in a real family home.

• Course Syllabus for Spring 2006
• Presentation Topics for Spring 2006
• Scoring Rubric for Team Presentations
• (Note added April 2007-because of problems with the on-line evaluations, any future evaluations for NS116 will be done with the old, but reliable, paper format.)
  For your On-line evaluation of this course, please go to http://www.digitalcampus.csufresno.edu/eval/ and choose the evaluation for NSCI 116. We appreciate your input about this class. If you require instructions please download the PDF file from http://www.digitalcampus.csufresno.edu/eval/guides/OnlineCourseEval.pdf

• Population Clocks from the US Bureau of Census
• What was that car? Click here for information on the Cadillac Sixteen
• You may want the United States Frequency Allocation Chart for your presentations on cell phones, AM&FM Radio, TV, satellite communication, etc. Find where your favorite device lives in the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Don't forget to check out HowStuffWorks for a good initial source for your presentation.
• PBS-Tesla, Master of Lightning - how the Age of Electricity began
• PBS-Edison's Miracle of Light - equal time for Tesla's rival in the Age of Electricity
• http://solarsystem.nasa.gov is a good place for information about the planets and the solar system that we discussed in the Space Race presentation. Also see Powers of Ten from Florida State University.
• Animation of Gasoline, Diesel, and Fuel Cell automotive power plants.
• Look at DriveClean.ca.gov for information on cars with PZEV or SULEV ratings. They are not all hybrids. Click on Vehicle Search to see present and past cars that meet these standards.
• The Green Vehicle Guide from the EPA provides lists of vehicles and explanations of air pollution standards as well as fuel economy information.
• www.fueleconomy.gov provides side-by-side comparisons of vehicles by fuel economy, air pollution and cost of operation.
• Thinking about cars that don't need gasoline? Go to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byfueltype.htm and look for things like Flex-Fuel cars that run on E85 (85% Ethanol, 15% Gasoline).
• http://www.newsolarhomes.ca.gov/ provides information on solar initiatives in California in 2006 for homes, schools, government and commercial buildings.

• Course Syllabus for Spring 2005
• Tentative Course Schedule for Spring 2005
• List of Suggested Team Presentation Topics
• Scoring Rubric for Team Presentations
• Blackboard for course documents, grades, and feedback.
• FOSS Kit Module Summaries can be found here. When you reach the module, click on For Parents and Teachers to find a PDF of the module summary. It is a little tricky to find your way here from the general FOSS Website.

• California Content Standards for Math and Science
• Scientific American Frontiers - Future Car broadcast 5/19/2004 From the Model T to Hydrogen-Powered Fuel Cell Cars and the Hydrogen Economy
• See Future Car in Streaming Video Three segments: Why Cars Must be Green; Goodbye Gasoline; Hydrogen Ahead.
• The End of Cheap Oil in the June 2004 National Geographic Magazine. (I told you so!) Lots of good links on the page. The full article is hard copy only; see your library.
• Price for Oil, Part 2: High Oil Prices have Unexpected Benefits by Paul Solman for the PBS Newshour, January 24, 2005. Transcript and streaming video.
• System Conditions from the California ISO. See how much power we are using.
• Energy Kids Page from the Energy Information Administration. This US government site has energy topics and materials for teachers.
• The PBS Nova Program World in the Balance includes a section called China Revs Up. A streaming video program preview shows what may lie ahead in competition for energy.
• The Green Vehicle Guide from the EPA provides lists of vehicles and explanations of air pollution standards as well as fuel economy information.
• www.fueleconomy.gov provides side-by-side comparisons of vehicles by fuel economy, air pollution and cost of operation.

• Course Syllabus for Spring 2004
• Tentative Schedule for Spring 2004
• Suggested Team Presentation Topics
• Scoring Rubric for Team Presentations
• Use Blackboard for Team Assignments, lecture notes, assignments, study materials and grades.

Web sites of Interest for Spring 2004

• How Stuff Works - a good starting place for information about technology
• PBS-Tesla, Master of Lightning - how the Age of Electricity began
• FOSS Kits for elementary school science instruction
• FOSS K-8 Scope - FOSS lessons by grade level and content area
• Content Standards for California Public Schools - check out what your future students (and you!) are supposed to know in Math and Science.
• Mars Rover home page from JPL-NASA
• Where is Mars? - Java Applet of the orbits around the Sun from NASA
• Powers of Ten a Java Applet tour of the Universe from Florida State University
• Fresno Metropolitan Museum has Beakmans's World on Tour for Science Education
• New Valley Times of "2015" a possible future for Fresno?
• Energy in the United States: 1635-2000 - the EIA site that has the energy sources over time figure in the Introduction. Other figures from this site will be discussed during the course too.
• California Fuel Cell Partnership - See California's plans for fuel cell cars and the hydrogen economy. Check out their Events and Exhibits archives for the Rally Thru the Valley of 2003.
• World in the Balance is a PBS Nova program of 2004. It explores the impact of emerging nations on our energy and climate future. It includes many teachers guides and resources.
• Zero Energy Houses for sale in the Sacramento area use solar roofing shingles.

• Course Syllabus for Spring 2003
• Publisher's Web Site for Hinrichs & Kleinbach, Energy-Its Use and the Environment, 3rd Ed (Brooks/Cole)
• Suggested Student Team Presentation Topics Sp2003
• Dates, Topics, and Team Members for Presentations Sp2003
• Scoring Rubric for Team Presentations
• Use Blackboard for current lecture notes, assignments, study materials and grades.

Web Sites of Interest for Spring 2003

• The End of Cheap Oil - an HTML version of the famous 1998 Scientific American article.
• The Billion Dollar Bet - the CBS 60 Minutes II presentation on the fuel cell car, April 2, 2003
• The Green Vehicle Guide from the EPA explains terms like SULEV and rates vehicles by pollution.
• DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells - up to date information on transportation and stationary uses of fuel cells.
• Oil from Turkey Guts! - Is this the new source of petroleum that will Save Us All? See the follow-up to this article in the April 2006 edition of Discover. A commercial plant is in operation in 2006.
• SMUD energy videos - See how SMUD is installing solar roofs and promoting EV's.
• Solar Energy in Fresno - Fresno Bee article May 4, 2003 on the "Solar Explosion" in the Valley

• Course Syllabus
• Suggested Student Presentation Topics
• Encoded Course Grades Summer 2001

• Weblinks for Hinrichs, Energy and the Environment, 3rd Edition
• PBS-Tesla, Master of Lightning
• Southern California Edison-Big Creek Hydroelectric System
• System Conditions - The California ISO
• PBS-Science and Technology
• PBS Newshour Energy and the Environment
• Scientific American: ANWR mostly text and PDF downloads
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife -ANWR Oil and Gas issues with many maps and figures
• U.S. Energy Information Administration
  • U.S. EIA Presentations - links to slides of energy facts with commentary for 1997-2001
  • U.S. EIA presentation Annual Energy Outlook 2001 (November 2000)
  • U.S. EIA Long Term World Oil Supply 7/28/2000
  • U.S. EIA - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network
  • U.S. EIA - Hydrogen and the Hydrogen Economy

• 6 billion Human Beings
• PBS Online
• Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley
• Scientific American
• NASA Homepage
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Chemistry in Context Website
• Worldwatch home page
• Dr. Zellmer's Chemistry 3A Website Information on basic chemistry concepts.
• CA State Board of Education Science Content Standards (from Jim Marshall)
• Recent California Earthquakes Want to see a site that gives an earthquake map similar to the one they had at the Lawrence Hall of Science? This one comes from the US Geological Survey.
• How Stuff Works My thanks to Dr. Fred Schreiber for sending us this very cool site. Want to see how a gasoline or electric motor works? This is the place. Note: Summer 2001-This site will only work with a fairly current version (4 or better) of Internet Explorer. Netscape Navigator will leave you with a blank page due to Javascript incompatabilities.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory This site has a lot of useful information and tutorials on solar and other forms of renewable energy.
• Virtual Nuclear Power Plant Tour See also How Stuff Works cited above under How Radiation Works for an overview and list of other sites, including this one.

Solar Houses Day Summer 1999