1. 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.
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2. Energy transformations
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3. 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.
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4. 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
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5. 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
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6. 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
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7. 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
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8. 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
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9. 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
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10. 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
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11. 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
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