
John Silva, MS
Full Time Lecturer
Physics
Contact
508-999-8356
508-999-9115
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Science & Engineering 203C
Education
1980 | Bridgewater State University | MS in Earth Science |
1970 | Fitchburg State University | BS in Earth Science |
Teaching
Programs
Teaching
Courses
Continuation of PHY 101. The topics covered include heat and thermodynamics, vibrations, optics, electricity and magnetism. Non-calculus presentation.
This course studies current environmental issues and their relations to technological choices. For example, air and water quality are examined in relation to the use of various renewable and non-renewable energy resources. The course is non-mathematical and satisfies 3 credits of the Natural Science requirement.
Continuation of PHY 171, focusing on Earth's resources: rare and abundant metals and their uses, history of life on Earth, the fossil record; energy and fossil fuels; nuclear energy sources, uranium, plutonium, and deuterium; water and its distribution, rate of use, and pollution; atmospheric-oceanic circulation and heat balance; weather and climate; humanity as agent of change on Earth.
The fundamentals of atmospheric science. Basic physical principles which affect the general circulation of the atmosphere and their relation to the day-to-day sequence of weather events are discussed. As part of the course, students generate short-term forecasts using real time information available by computer from the internet.
Research
Research Interests
- Astronomy
- Earth science education
- Earth science/ geology
- Planetary geology