Unit 7: Cost of electricity pg.105-107

Question 1

What does money pay for?

Hint: Electricity

Answer 1

Money is needed to supply electricity to homes, factories, businesses, schools and other places.

Question 2

Why is electricity expensive?

Answer 2

Electricity is expensive because it needs a lot of systems to make and deliver it.

Question 3

1.1 THE COST OF COAL MINES

List 3 reasons why running coal mines is needs money and is expensive.

Answer 3

1. PAY mine workers
2. BUY mining equipment
3. FIX the current equipment

Question 4

1.2. THE COST OF TRANSPORT

Although most of our ____-_____ power ______ are close to coal _____, transporting coal to _____ stations is expensive.

Answer 4

Although most of our COAL-FIRED power STATIONS are close to coal MINES, transporting coal to POWER stations is expensive.

Question 5

1.3. THE COST OF POWER STATIONS
Building a ____ power station costs _____ of Rands. The _____ power stations, ______ (in Limpopo), and ____ (in Mpumalanga), cost between R___ and R___ billion. By 20__ Eskom will spend about a _____ rand on electricity in SA.

Answer 5

Building a NEW power station costs BILLIONS of Rands. The BIGGEST power stations, MEDUPI (in Limpopo), and KUSILE (in Mpumalanga), cost between R 116 and R 158 billion. By 20 26 Eskom will spend about a TRILLION rand on electricity in SA.

Question 6

1.4. THE COST OF PYLONS, SUBSTATIONS and WIRING
To get the _______ to our homes, _____, substations and _____ criss-cross our country from one ____ to the other. This ____ system costs money, not only to ______ but to ______.

Answer 6

To get the ELECTRICITY to our homes, PYLONS, substations and WIRES criss-cross our country from one END to the other. This GRID system costs money, not only to CONSTRUCT but to MAINTAIN.

Question 7

1.5. THE COST OF RUNNING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
Electricity ____ is measured in _____. Different appliances use different amounts of ____. For example, a fridge uses more power than a ________. The ____ electricity a appliance uses, the more you pay for electricity every ____.

Answer 7

Electricity POWER is measured in WATTS. Different appliances use different amounts of POWER. For example, a fridge uses more power than a TELEVISION. The MORE electricity a appliance uses, the more you pay for electricity every MONTH.

Question 8

What happens when we use more power?

Answer 8

Power stations have to burn more coal.

Question 9

What is coal?

Hint: Valuable

Answer 9

Coal is a valuable and limited resource because it is non-renewable.

Question 10

How can we protect coal?

Answer 10

We can protect coal by using less electricity.

Question 11

2.1. SOLAR WATER HEATERS
______ use a lot of electricity to heat _____. To save electricity you can turn down the ______ element on the geyser down or ______ a _____ water heater. A solar water ______ uses the energy of the ____ to heat up the water. It may use electricity as a _____-___, but there will be “___” hot water when the Sun is shining.

Answer 11

GEYSERS use a lot of electricity to heat WATER. To save electricity you can turn down the HEATING element on the geyser down or INSTALL a SOLAR water heater. A solar water HEATER uses the energy of the SUN to heat up the water. It may use electricity as a BACK-UP, but there will be “FREE” hot water when the Sun is shining.

Question 12

2.2. ENERGY-SAVING LIGHT BULBS
Light bulbs convert ___% of their electricity into ___ and 80% into ____. This wastes electricity, as we do not use this ____. More recent light bulbs, convert ___% into _____ and 20% into ___. These bulbs cost more than ________ light bulbs, but they last _____ and use less ______.

Answer 12

Light bulbs convert 20 % of their electricity into LIGHT and 80% into HEAT. This wastes electricity, as we do not use this HEAT. More recent light bulbs, convert 80 % into LIGHT and 20% into HEAT. These bulbs cost more than TRADITIONAL light bulbs, but they last LONGER and use less ENERGY.

Question 13

2.3. HEAT INSULATION
Insulators stop the flow of ____. If a home is well-______, it will not lose ____ and you will pay ____ for electricity bills in the ______.

Answer 13

Insulators stop the flow of HEAT. If a home is well-INSULATED, it will not lose HEAT and you will pay LESS for electricity bills in the WINTER.

Question 14

Give 5 examples of energy-saving hints.

Answer 14

1. Use less hot water. Shower instead of bathing.
2. Switch off appliances when not using them.
3. Cover pots when cooking.
4. Use a kettle to boil water instead of a pot and only use as much water as you need.
5. Bring food to boil on high and then turn the plate down so that the food simmers.
6. Do not use the oven or stove to heat the home. A gas heater is more effective and cheaper and so are hot water bottles.
7. Make sure that the rubber seals to ovens and fridges are not worn out.
8. Turn off lights when no one is in the room.
9. Turn off all appliances that are in stand-by mode at the plug - such as your phone charger, TV and CD player.
10. Use a geyser blanket to stop the geyser from losing heat.
11. Turn off the geyser when you do not need to use it.