Energy sources, conservation and efficiency
Convincing your students that the total amount of energy in the Universe is fixed and that what there is cannot be destroyed and that no more can be created is at odds with their everyday use of the concept. You may find this guidance interesting and useful to begin discussions with your class.
The resources below provide examples of situations where energy is transferred or transformed and the total energy of the system (considering losses) is constant. Most of these are set in a real world rather than a classroom context but should make it clear that it is important to be able to measure useful energy, wasted energy and to calculate the efficiency. The SEP energy meter (first link) is one of the best ways to measure efficiency in class easily although the experiment for measuring specific heat capacity is another option where you give the class the value of the specific heat capacity of an object and they work out the energy loss from the difference between E=ItV and E=mcΔT.
Being able to make calculations of the energy changes associated with changes in a system, recalling or selecting the relevant equations requires use of math skills.
Whilst this list provides a source of information and ideas for experimental work, it is important to note that recommendations can date very quickly. Do NOT follow suggestions which conflict with current advice from CLEAPSS, SSERC or recent safety guides. eLibrary users are responsible for ensuring that any activity, including practical work, which they carry out is consistent with current regulations related to Health and Safety and that they carry an appropriate risk assessment. Further information is provided in our Health and Safety guidance.
How Many Lightbulbs?
This video features Cambridge University physicist, David Mackay, in a passionate, personal analysis of the energy crisis in the UK, in which he comes to some surprising conclusions about the way forward. He debunks some myths about energy saving – unplugging our phone chargers does not make any appreciable difference. After showing us what will not work, he goes on to show what will make a difference at home, like turning the thermostat down.
Without the Hot Air
An online free to read copy of the book Sustainable Energy - Without the hot air by David JC MacKay that aims to look at the energy production and consumption in the UK from a physics perspective. The gadgets chapter is a highlight as it tries to provide an honest look at how much the stuff we use every day actually consumes.
The book is long but well worthwhile the time investment but for those pressed for time, a 10 page synopsis is available here.
The book is free to download as a whole or by chapter.
Energy Analyst *suitable for home teaching*
In this video an energy analyst describes their role, where using their science and maths knowledge they help their company decide which power stations they should build in the future.
Our future energy
OurFuture Energy is the place for teachers to find all the energy themed resources you will need for your classroom. The website features an ever growing bank of curriculum-aligned resource materials for schools in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It's also brilliant for 11 to 16 year olds to use when studying for homework or exams.
The Challenge of Solar Power
This is a video resource that explains how solar energy is harnessed near Seville, Spain to generate steam to drive turbines that generate electrical power. It also explains how photovoltaic cells work and suggests how these can be used in desert areas to construct large generation plants. The financial and political obstacles confronting renewable energy, and how to overcome them are also considered.
Energy and Recycling *suitable for home teaching*
This video provides an alternative context in which to consider energy sources. It looks at the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel for cars and a refueling station which converts solar energy into electrical energy and water to produce the hydrogen. It also covers wind energy how this energy resource is viable when scaled up to a large wind farm in the right location. You could use the video to introduce the next link.
Wind Power
This resource provides a source of ideas and information about wind power, as well as suggesting classroom activities and materials that can be used in existing schemes of work.
Green School
This video showcases the Howe Dell School as an exemplar eco-school. It features a wide range of engineering solutions and green technologies. For example, the inter-seasonal heat transfer system uses the playground surface to absorb heat energy during the summer which is stored underground to be released into the school through winter.
This video is part of a set of resources click here that you could use with your students for school themed project work. You could use the exercise based on making and evaluating a presentation in ‘Energy efficiency 2’ to develop your students' presentation skills.
Career Clips: Energy Efficiency and Architecture
This video recaps some basics of energy such as thermal transfer and insulation applied to building design, but primarily it shows students how studying Physics can lead to a career in Architecture.
