Energy

Abstract

Energy is measured in a variety of units, most commonly by the unit “BTU” or British thermal unit. One BTU is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by 1°F. In a home, for example, a furnace might have an output of 25,000 BTU per hour. Running full out for 24 h, then, a home furnace would provide about 600,000 BTU or, in another commonly used unit, about 0.01 tonnes oil equivalent. A gallon of regular gas has an energy content of about 114,000 BTU. Thus, a car getting 20 miles per gal and driving about 10,000 miles per year would consume about 22,800 million BTU or about 570 tonnes oil equivalent.

There are no diplomatic or military problems associated with energy.

You simply establish a rapid deployment force.

That may cost you a little more than developing energy sources internally but it’s a lot more fun.

Edwin E. Kintner

Aide to Admiral Hyman Rickover and later Head of the US fusion program