1. Electric Energy at Home
Chapter 6

2. Generating Electric Energy
There are many ways to produce electrical energy:
In the 1800s, Michael Faraday discovered that by pushing a magnet through a coil of wire, an electric current is generated
-In this set up, as you increase the amounts of coils or use a stronger magnet, more electrical energy is produced
-This device is called a Generator

3. Generating Electricity
A Generator is one device that produces electricity, …also solar panels can be used
In today’s fast paced world, where electricity is used in all aspects of our life and in huge amounts, MASSIVE generators are needed to supply the electrical energy
When creating electrical energy:
Input energy  converter  output energy
Kinetic energy generator electrical energy

4. Generating and Distributing Electrical Energy

5. Turbines
Almost all electricity is made from a Turbine Generator: Turbines are attached to the generator. They have a set of blades that turn due to the movement of water/air/steam/particles, across them. The kinetic energy created by the spinning turbine is transformed into kinetic energy in the generator, which ultimately converts it into electrical energy.
Turbine-generators are found in Power Plants:
Hydro-electric plants: moving water  electricity
Thermo-electric plants: chemical energy from fossil fuelsthermal energy kinetic energyelectricity
Thermo nuclear plants: split atoms thermal energykinetic energyelectical energy

6. Turbine Generator Generator Water/steam/particles in and out
electricity
Generator
Water/steam/particles in and out

7. Coal-Fired Thermo-electric Generation
These are plentiful in Alberta, due to it being cheap and b/c tons-o-coal is found in this province.
COAL is the most common and important fuel used to generate electricity
In these thermal plants, scrubbers exist to remove harmful chemicals from the smoke
See pg.104- Electricity formed from coal/natural gas
1) Coal is retrieved from land and broken down into a powder form
2) Coal is burned, this creates thermal energy which is used to convert water to steam
3) Steam moves into the turbine and causes the blades to move
4) the turbine turns the generator, which converts kinetic energy into electrical energy
5) Electricity is distributed to households by transmission lines

8. Hydro-electric Generation
Due to there being a lot of water in Canada, and the cleanliness of using water, hydro-electric power plants produce much of the electricity in Canada
Although the actual making of the electricity does not cause a lot of harm to the environment, DAMS are used to pool water, which causes flooding in areas and remove plant and animal habitats

9. Thermo-nuclear Generating Station
Nuclear Power Plants: uranium atoms are split by nuclear fission. This splitting releases a huge amount of thermal energy, which in turn is used to create electricity
See pg.106- Thermo-nuclear Power
1) uranium is split
2) a HUGE amount of thermal energy is created
3) thermal energy converts water to steam
4) steam turns turbine
5) the turbines spin the generator which produces electricity
6) electricity is transferred to us via power line
This is an example of a CANDU reactor

10. Electric Energy and Power (Calculations)
Energy: is the ability to do work
Work: force x distance
Work = F x d
Units: work: Joules (J)
Force: Newtons (N)
Distance: meter (m)

11. Units: Power: watts (W)
Power: is the rate at which energy is transferred. How fast energy is used or produced
-work done fast= higher power
-work done slow= lower power
Power: energy/time
Power = E/t
Units: Power: watts (W)
Energy: joules (J)
Time: seconds (s)

12. What do you buy from the Power Company?
Power companies supply electric energy, not power
When you pay an electricity bill, you are paying for electric energy
Energy = Power x time
Energy = P x t
Units: energy: watt.hours (Wh)
Power: watts (W)
Time: seconds (s)

13. Efficiency and Saving energy
Efficiency is a measure of how completely input energy is converted to accomplish the desired output energy. Written as a percent
Ex. Incandescent light bulbs and fluorescent light bulbs produce equal amounts of light (desired output), but incandescent give off a lot of heat (not a desired output) as well, which is not needed, thus incandescent are less efficient that fluorescent.
Percent efficiency = useful input/total input
X 100

14. It Pays to be Efficient Saving energy is a GOOD thing!!
1) Saves you the cheddar $$$
2) Benefits the environment: especially if fossil fuels are being used. When fossil fuels are burned waste gases are released into the environment. These gases are contributing factors to global warming climate changes, acid rain, habitat loss, etc.