Energy transformations Teacher’s notes This activity shows a set of three incomplete energy transformation diagrams, each accompanied by a choice of energy types that could be used to complete the diagram. This is a teacher-led class activity requiring guidance from the teacher and class discussion about how the diagrams should be completed. You may like to ask students to jot down the answers they think are right before you reveal the correct answer. Carbon Footprint Toolkit www.bp.com/bpes/cft2009

Energy transformations Carbon Footprint Toolkit www.bp.com/bpes/cft2009

Energy transformations Where does the energy we use actually come from? In the following activity you will be shown some incomplete energy transformation diagrams. Choose the correct phrases from the bottom of the screen to fill in the gaps. Carbon Footprint Toolkit www.bp.com/bpes/cft2009

Coal fired electricity generation Choose which types of energy need to go in the empty boxes to complete the energy transformation diagram. ? ? Chemical potential energy in buried coal ? Kinetic energy of high pressure steam Kinetic energy of spinning turbine Electrical energy a. Elastic potential energy of a rubber band b. Light energy from the sun c. Kinetic energy of the wind d. Chemical potential energy in living plants e. Thermal (heat) energy from burning coal f. Gravitational potential energy Carbon Footprint Toolkit www.bp.com/bpes/cft2009

Coal fired electricity generation Did you get it right? b. Light energy from the sun ? ? c. Kinetic energy of the wind Chemical potential energy in buried coal e. Thermal (heat) energy from burning coal ? Kinetic energy of high pressure steam Kinetic energy of spinning turbine Electrical energy a. Elastic potential energy of a rubber band d. Chemical potential energy in living plants f. Gravitational potential energy Carbon Footprint Toolkit www.bp.com/bpes/cft2009

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels Choose which types of energy need to go in the empty boxes to complete the energy transformation diagram Light energy from the sun ? a. Elastic potential energy of a rubber band b. Nuclear energy c. Thermal (heat) energy from the burning coal d. Gravitational potential energy e. Electrical energy f. Kinetic energy of the wind g. Chemical potential energy in living plants Carbon Footprint Toolkit www.bp.com/bpes/cft2009

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels Did you get it right? Light energy from the sun e. Electrical energy ? a. Elastic potential energy of a rubber band b. Nuclear energy c. Thermal (heat) energy from the burning coal d. Gravitational potential energy f. Kinetic energy of the wind g. Chemical potential energy in living plants Carbon Footprint Toolkit www.bp.com/bpes/cft2009

Wind power Choose which types of energy need to go in the empty boxes to complete the energy transformation diagram Thermal (heat) energy from the sun ? ? Kinetic energy of turbine and generator ? ? a. Kinetic energy of the wind b. Gravitational potential energy c. Sound energy of the wind d. Electrical energy e. Chemical potential energy of organic matter f. Nuclear energy Carbon Footprint Toolkit www.bp.com/bpes/cft2009

Wind power ? ? Did you get it right? Carbon Footprint Toolkit Thermal (heat) energy from the sun a. Kinetic energy of the wind ? Kinetic energy of Turbine and generator d. Electrical energy ? b. Gravitational potential energy c. Sound energy of the wind e. Chemical potential energy of organic matter f. Nuclear energy Carbon Footprint Toolkit www.bp.com/bpes/cft2009

Sun power Did you notice that all three methods of generating electricity shown on the previous slides use energy which first came from the Sun? In fact, most of the energy we use first came from the Sun. Take a look at the list of energy resources below and see if you can figure out which ones didn’t first start with energy from the Sun. a. Wave power generators b. Biomass power stations c. Oil-fired power stations d. Geothermal borehole energy e. Nuclear power stations f. Gas-fired power stations g. Hydroelectric power stations Carbon Footprint Toolkit www.bp.com/bpes/cft2009

Sun power You might be surprised that only two of these methods of generating electricity do not rely on the energy for the Sun. Have a go at drawing your own energy transformations diagrams for them. a. Wave power generators b. Biomass power stations c. Oil-fired power stations d. Geothermal borehole energy e. Nuclear power stations f. Gas-fired power stations g. Hydro-electric power stations Carbon Footprint Toolkit www.bp.com/bpes/cft2009

Carbon Footprint Toolkit www.bp.com/bpes/cft2009