Producing Electricity 1

...generating electricity...

Objectives:

Energy!

Woop Woop!

• Be able to name a range of different energy resources.

• Be able to describe how each method works using scientific ideas about energy.

• Be able to state advantages and disadvantages of each method of generating electricity.

Task 1 - Starter

Hands up!

I know the answer!

Discuss in pairs or threes:

1) Where does electrical energy come from?

2) How is it produced?

3) Could it ever run out?

Your teacher will ask you to share your ideas with the class, and may write some of your ideas on the board.

Task 2 - Making Electricity

My brain is powered by electricity.

A hand generator turns kinetic energy into electrical energy. Can you draw an energy transfer diagram for a hand generator lighting a bulb?

Your teacher will show you a hand generator.

Turning it by hand is very tedious.

How else could we turn the generator?

Energy resources presentation

ALL the energy!

This presentation contains lot of images and information about energy resources.

Your teacher will show you some of these images, and explain the advantages and disadvantages of each energy resource.

Task 3 - Changing demands for power

Spikes in the demand for electrical energy!

The demand for energy varies throughout the day. For example, in the mornings when people use showers, toasters and other high powered appliances.

This video shows what happens when the demand for electricity increases - in a very special kind of power station!

Graph showing varying demands for power

This graph shows how the demand for power varied on one particular evening, when a premiere of a popular new film was being shown on television*.

*The film being shown was the first ever James Bond film, "Dr. No", in October 1962!

The amount of electrical energy being used decreases throughout the evening as people go to bed. The spikes every half an hour are caused by lots of people switching on their kettles to make tea during the advert breaks!

Task 4 - How much have you learned?

A coal power station.

Match the name of the energy resource to the correct description.

Leave the definitions together as one block and chop up the names. Secure your work in your book when you have matched the names correctly. Teacher note: you can download the answers here.

Task 5 - Plenary

Can I have a go please?

Plasma balls.

They're very fun.

A plasma ball allows us to see electrical energy flowing.

Your teacher will show some of the ways the plasma can behave, including:

1) How to light a fluorescent tube.

2) How the electric charges in the plasma respond to your hand.

3) How to make a current flow through the air and burn microscopic holes in your epidermis!

Teacher note:

You will need to complete a risk assessment for these tasks. This should include not leaving your hand in one place on the globe of the plasma ball for more than 10 seconds, and cover precautions for task 3.

Homework

An unhappy polar bear.

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas.

A coal power station.

Find out how a coal power station works. Your research should include:

1) a picture or photograph of a coal power station.

2) a diagram, showing how it works.

3) a simple explanation of how it works, in words you understand - preferably your own words!

4) a description of the negative environmental effects caused by coal power stations.

Click the image below to download this homework task.