Renewable Energy
The energy demands of the human population are high, and meeting those demands with fossil-fuel powered generators has a great deal of environmental consequences. This unit covers alternative, renewable energy resources that have a much lower impact on the Earth. Students will learn the potential benefits of utilizing such sources of energy as the sun, wind, tides, heat from the Earth's mantle, and biomass.
Renewable Energy Lecture Powerpoint
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Purpose: This presentation covers the logistical challenges faced by our society as we try to harness renewable forms of energy. The topic is broken down into the three main energy needs we have: electricity, heat, and fuel for transportation. For each energy source, including solar, wind, and biomass, potential applications are given and the challenges in using each resource are explained. This lecture includes a section discussing the importance of energy conservation and energy efficiency. A student notes outline is also available for this lecture.
Essential Concepts: Renewable energy, green energy, biomass, methane, fermentation, ethanol, gasahol, biofuel, biodiesel, dung, wood, wind power, wind farms, solar power, solar cells, photovoltaic cells, high temperature solar energy, passive solar heating, active solar heating, nickel metal hydride, lithium ion, batteries, tidal power, geothermal energy, energy efficiency, energy conservation.
Renewable Energy Notes Outline
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Purpose: Taking efficient notes can be a big challenge for many students, especially when working from a Powerpoint lecture. This outline gives students a means to take notes that guides them toward important concepts and avoids the pitfalls of writing word-for-word or simply not taking notes at all. The outline is written as a series of questions, fill-in-the-blanks, or diagrams. This outline is based on the Powerpoint lecture written specifically for this unit.
Essential Concepts: Renewable energy, green energy, biomass, methane, fermentation, ethanol, gasahol, biofuel, biodiesel, dung, wood, wind power, wind farms, solar power, solar cells, photovoltaic cells, high temperature solar energy, passive solar heating, active solar heating, nickel metal hydride, lithium ion, batteries, tidal power, geothermal energy, energy efficiency, energy conservation.
Renewable Energy in Middle Earth Activity
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Purpose: One of the most challenging aspects of utilizing renewable energy is that the resources are highly dependent on geography and geology. Some areas may be idea for large solar farms, while others are better suited for geothermal plants. In this activity, students will take a detailed map of Middle Earth (taken from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy) and identify good locations for each of the different forms of renewable energy.
Essential Concepts: Electricity, cost, kilowatt-hours, energy efficiency.
Calculating the Price of Electricity Activity
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Purpose: We all receive an electric bill each month, but few actually think about the amount of electricity consumed by all of the differences devices we use throughout the day. This worksheet will provide students with a price of electricity in kilowatt-hours, then guide them through a typical day of electric power usage. They will calculate the cost of performing several activities, from running the dishwasher to playing video games.
Essential Concepts: Electricity, cost, kilowatt-hours, energy efficiency.
Switch Documentary Worksheet
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Purpose: Switch is an incredibly comprehensive look at energy production across the world. Every major source of energy is covered, including coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, and renewable sources like wind, solar, and geothermal. The advantages and disadvantages of each source are discussed while working towards some combination of energy resources that will reduce our carbon dioxide and other forms of pollution.
Essential Concepts: Fossil fuels, renewable energy, nuclear energy, coal, oil, natural gas, hydraulic fracturing, nuclear waste, photovoltaic solar power, parabolic solar heat collection, wind farms, geothermal energy.
PBS NOVA - Making Stuff Cleaner
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Purpose: This episode from the PBS Nova "Making Stuff" series, hosted by David Pogue, focuses on technological innovations in the field of renewable energy. About half the episode is spent comparing three different innovations in cars, including hydrogen fuel cells, electric cars, and biofuels. The second half of the episode looks at replacements for petroleum-based plastics.
Essential Concepts: Renewable energy, photovolatic cells, hydrogen fuel cells, electric cars, biofuels, biodegradable.
Renewable Energy Study Guide
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Purpose: Once the instruction for the unit is completed, students can complete this study guide to aid in their preparation for a written test. The study guide is divided into two sections: vocabulary and short answer questions. The vocabulary is taken directly form the lecture, sequentially. The short answer questions are meant to model the type they may see on the exam. This study guide is sequentually based on the Powerpoint lecture from this unit.
Essential Concepts: Renewable energy, green energy, biomass, methane, fermentation, ethanol, gasahol, biofuel, biodiesel, dung, wood, wind power, wind farms, solar power, solar cells, photovoltaic cells, high temperature solar energy, passive solar heating, active solar heating, nickel metal hydride, lithium ion, batteries, tidal power, geothermal energy, energy efficiency, energy conservation.
