Lesson 1: How do we generate electricity?

Question 1

Brainstorm about Energy:

Answer 1

• Use daily
• Different types:
• Kinetic Energy
• Solar Energy
• Chemical Energy
• Thermal Energy
• Something that can be used
• Cannot be created or destroyed
• Capacity to do work
• Powerful

Question 2

Brainstorm about How energy is measured:

Answer 2

• Measured in joules

Question 3

Brainstorm about Sustainable, renewable & non-renewable energy:

Answer 3

• Sustainable energy is energy that lasts forever and can keep on being reproduced
• Renewable energy is energy derived from natural resources that replenish themselves over a period of time without depleting the Earth’s resources.
• Non-renewable energy is energy that is in scarce meaning that it can’t sustain itself to last forever
  Eg coal is non-renewable because it will eventually run out

Question 4

Brainstorm about Energy Production:

Answer 4

• Different ways energy can be produced through:
• Coal-fired power stations
• Gas-fired power stations
• Nuclear power stations
• Hydroelectric power stations
• Wind farms
• Solar panels

Question 5

Brainstorm about Electricity:

Answer 5

• Could be electrocuted from it
• Dangerous if you touch live wire
• Powers houses, rooms, schools, hospitals etc
• Used in everyday lives
• Put in lights
• Form of energy

Question 6

How do coal-fired power stations work:

Answer 6

• When you turn coils of wire that are surrounded by magnets, electricity is produced
• When something spins it usually is the producer of energy

Production Steps:
- The coal is dug up by huge excavators
- The coal is then carried by conveyor belts into the power station and it’s fed into huge boilers
- It is then set on fire
- The water in the boiler boils and turns to steam
- The steam is forced up through pipes into huge turbines
- Turbines are like windmills and they spin as steam pushes on them
- Each turbine is connected to a generator so that as the turbine spins the generator spins as well
- Electricity is produced when any generator is made to spin
- The hot steam is then cooled down in the condenser so that it condenses and then the water is pumped back into the boiler so that the cycle can repeat
- The condenser is kept cooled by cool water that is pumped into it either from a nearby river or lake or cooling tower
- The white clouds that are often seen above cooling towers are made of water that has evaporated in the cooling process
- Coal-fired power stations need huge amounts of coal

Question 7

Explain how electricity is generated from Coal fired power stations:

Answer 7

Electricity is generated from Coal fired power stations because of the heat from the water that turns to steam when boiled and turns the energy which powers electricity.

Question 8

Discuss whether this form of energy is sustainable:

Answer 8

Coal is non-sustainable because it won’t last forever, as it will run out and it is bad for the environment because it causes pollution that harms our land.
Coal produces energy.