Energy Alternative Energy
Alternative Energy
Alternative Energy
Traditional and alternative methods of generating electrical current (electricity).
Introduction
In this lesson, students will explore methods of converting primary energy sources into electrical energy. Using renewable (green) and non-renewable energy sources, students will generate electrical currents. At the end of the lesson, students will compare renewable and non-renewable energy sources in British Columbia and pursue creative alternatives for clean energy.
Objectives
- Describe electrical current as a stream of moving electrons.
- Describe the generation and identify uses of electrical current.
- Identify renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
- Compare and contrast various primary energy sources.
Background
Energy can be defined as the ability to do work. These activities focus on the energy carried by electric currents—electric energy.
In the 1800s, scientists discovered that moving magnets through a wire coil caused the electrons in the coil to move. This electric current could heat a filament so much that it glowed—thus creating the light bulb. Today, we use electric energy for everything from lighting, to heating and cooling our homes, to running our computers and iPods. Most of us could not imagine life without a constant supply of moving electrons.
Electric energy is a secondary energy source. It doesn’t come directly from nature. Instead we must convert another energy source (a primary source), to electric energy. Solar panels (Photovoltaic cells) use light to move electrons in specially-prepared silicon chips.
A generator converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. Wind, moving water or steam turns the turbines in a generator. The turbines spin a coil of wire between two magnets, creating an electrical current. In other words, mechanical energy becomes electric energy. The steam to turn a turbine can be created by using fossil fuels, solar rays, geothermal resources or the heat of a nuclear reaction to boil a fluid. Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, take millions of years to create so we call them non-renewable sources of energy. We can only use as much gas as we can find under the earth. Once we use it up, we cannot create more.
To plan for the future, we need to use renewable sources of energy that replenish themselves quickly. Some options for the future include:
- biomass, made from meat or veggie oils or decomposition of garbage
- wind energy, gathered from using windmills or turbines
- solar energy, heat collected from the sun that is stored
- hydroelectricity, energy created from water
Entire Lesson
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Other Resources
Science World School Programs
- Electricity
- Enviro Challenge
BC Hydro's School Programs
BC Hydro Stave Falls
Energy Interview
Looking for a wrap-up activity? Check out SuperGreen Trivia