1. Electricity Production

2. 1st Law of Thermodynamics
An important Law of the Universe is the 1st Law of Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics is a fancy way of saying ‘changing energy/heat’
Thermo = heat/energy
Dynamic = changing
“Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changed from one form into another”

3. 1st Law of Thermodynamics
Think back to making static electricity
You changed movement (called kinetic energy) into electricity (electrical energy)
The movement in your body (kinetic energy) is made your muscles that use chemical energy that you get from your food
In circuits, the electricity didn’t just ‘appear’ out of the battery
Batteries convert chemical energy (using chemical properties of the chemicals inside) into electrical energy

4. 1st Law of Thermodynamics
This means that we can never really ‘create’ electricity
Instead we must convert another type of energy into electricity
Currently we use generators to make the majority of our electricity

5. Generators Generators make AC electricity
Generators supply almost all of the power that comes into your homes
Converts Mechanical Energy (motion) into Electricity

6. Generators
Generators have 2 basic parts
Magnets
Coils of copper wire

7. Magnets
Just like charged objects create electric fields, magnets also create fields
These are called Magnetic Fields
They are a lot like electric fields
If a magnet moves, the magnetic field moves with it

8. Generators In a generator, the magnet rotates
Since electrons have a charge, they can be moved by magnets or electricity
Charge = can be moved by magnets or electricity
If the magnet moves, it’s magnetic field moves
This pushes the electrons creating current and voltage
Generators may also keep a magnet still and rotate a coil of wire. This has the same result.

9. Generators
Generators are what create most of electricity that we use on a daily basis. It is what is transported through power lines to your homes
Generators convert Mechanical Energy into Electricity
If we have a way of turning a generator, we can create electricity

10. Types of Electrical Generation
There are many ways to create electricity
We are going to look at the following ways to create electricity
Hydroelectricity
Fossil Fuels (Coal, Oil, Gas/Diesel)
Biomass
Nuclear Power
Wind Power
Tidal Power
Solar Power*
*Doesn’t use a generator
Not every way of making electricity is going to be looked at in this class

11. Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity uses falling water to create electricity
A river is dammed off to create a large reservoir of water (a lake)
The dam allows some water to flow through a channel
The water falls and spins a generator as it falls
This create electricity
This is a renewable source of electricity

13. Pros and Cons of Hydroelectricity
Expensive to start but cheap after the dam is built
Renewable energy
Steady, reliable source of electricity
No release of greenhouse gases or pollution
Can be harmful to aquatic life (fish, water birds, etc.) that rely on a river
Causes the flooding of a large area to create the reservoir
This may cause people to have to relocated where they live
Creation of reservoir may force some animals to relocate
Lake can be used for recreation (boating, fishing, water skiing, etc.)

14. Fossil Fuels Fossil Fuels can be burned to create Heat Energy
Coal, Oil, and Gas are Fossil Fuels
They are non-renewable (cannot be remade easily)
Coal, oil, or gas are burned to create heat
This heat boils water into steam
The steam is forced through a pipe at high pressure
The steam then turns a generator, creating electricity
The steam is recycled back into liquid water and reheated

15. Fossil Fuels

16. Fossil Fuel Cons
Burning fossil fuels releases many chemicals into the atmosphere
Among these a lot of Carbon Dioxide and other Greenhouse Gases
These are believed to be the cause of Global Climate Change
The gradual warming of the Earth that is changing weather patterns all over

17. Fossil Fuel Pros
Fossil Fuels are relatively cheap, readily available, proven to work, and they create lots of heat.
This means we can have lots of electricity when we need it.
We can have relatively cheap electricity
Fossil fuels also make lots of jobs, as we need people to mine the coal/oil/gas/etc., people to process them, and people to run the power plants.

18. Biomass
Biomass is flammable material that is alive, was once alive, or came from living things.
Bio means life
Biomass is things like leftover plant material, manure, garbage, and other materials that come from living things that can be burned
Biomass is typically burned to heat water
The water turns to steam
The steam turns a generator

19. Biomass Pros and Cons
Biomass uses material that is typically thrown away or unused.
Biomass is burned, releasing some greenhouse gases
This means it contributes to global climate change
It doesn’t release as many greenhouse gases as fossil fuels
It does release less toxins than fossil fuels
Biomass is renewable
Can be expensive
Less reliable (sometimes cannot get as much biomass to burn)

20. Nuclear Power In nuclear power, atoms are split to make LOTS of heat
This heat boils water into steam
The steam turns a generator
The generator makes electricity

21. Nuclear Power Nuclear power uses Fission (splitting)
Fission is when the nucleus of one atom is split into 2 or more atoms, releasing heat in the process
This is the same process used in nuclear bombs, but is much more controlled and is fairly safe if done properly

22. Nuclear Fission
A neutron is shot at the nucleus of an atom (usually Uranium)
The Uranium atom splits into other atoms and releases more neutrons and heat.
The other neutrons hit other nuclei, breaking them apart and releasing more heat and more neutrons.
The neutrons then continue breaking atoms in a chain reaction.

23. Nuclear Fission

24. Nuclear Power

25. Nuclear Power Pros and Cons
Nuclear Power makes ENORMOUS amounts of electricity
The atoms made by splitting uranium are very radioactive, very dangerous, and last for millions of years.
It does not make very much of them, however.
These radioactive atoms are very hard to store
Does not make ANY greenhouse gases
The process can sometimes get uncontrollably hot if not down carefully.
This causes parts of the power plant to start melting
This is called a Meltdown

26. Wind Power Wind turbines look like giant fans
When wind blows, the blades are turned.
These blades are connected to a generator.
When the blades spin, so does the generator

27. Wind Pros and Cons
Wind creates no greenhouse gases, no waste, and no global climate change
Wind is expensive to start but cheap after being built
A renewable source of energy
Less jobs are required to maintain
Vibrations from the turbines have been linked to health problems such as heart beat changes, headaches, dizziness, nausea, memory problems, ringing in ears, and sleep problems for those who live nearby.

28. Tidal Power
Everyday, the ocean level rises and falls due to the Moon’s pull of gravity.
This is called the Tide
As the tide comes in (the water rises), the water rushes past a set of blades and rotates them.
This turns a generator and makes electricity
As the tide goes out (water goes down, the water turns the blades and rotates a generator.

29. Tidal Power Pros and Cons
Renewable, predictable source of energy
Not continuous, no energy when no tide
No greenhouse gases or pollution
Very harmful to sea life and birds that rely on areas to live
Very expensive to start
Often far away from places that need electricity so expensive to set up cables
Can be plugged by waste, pollution, or mud

30. Solar Power Solar Power DOES NOT use generators
Instead it uses Solar Panels that make DC electricity
Solar panels are made of silicon
When light hits thin layers of silicon, it can make the silicon release electrons.
This silicon is hooked to a circuit so the electrons can flow and come back to the silicon, where they are absorbed back into the material

31. Solar Panels

32. Solar Power Pros and Cons
Solar power is renewable
No greenhouse gas emissions
Pollution made is creating solar panels
Easy to get power in remote locations
Very expensive to start (can be up to $1000/solar panel)
No energy when no sunlight

33. Making Electricity There is no ‘perfect’ way to make electricity
Every way of producing electricity causes some problems
These problems all come from the 1st Law of Thermodynamics
We must convert another type of energy into electricity
The only way to reduce the problems is to USE LESS ELECTRICITY

34. Reducing You Electrical Consumption
Unplug electronics you aren’t using
Leaving things plugged in still uses some electricity
Turn off things your aren’t using
Turn off lights if you’re not in the room
Your cable box, computer, or gaming system use more electricity than most TVs. Turn them off when you’re not using them.
Try using less heat in the winter/air conditioning in the summer
Hang clothes to dry instead of using the dryer
Buy EnergyStar appliances
Buy LED or CFL light bulbs instead of incandescent