Electricity generation and the National Grid
The resources in this collection will enrich schemes of work for GCSE physics, and cover electricity generation, energy sources and domestic appliances.
An inspirational film to start off the topic shows Faye Banks - the north-east electrical transmission and asset manager for National Grid. Since growing up in care and returning to education to retake her GCSEs while working at a packing plant, she has become Young Women Engineer of the Year 2004 and the youngest-ever fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). Her role is to ensure the reliable transmission of electrical energy and a safe working environment at substations to guarantee resources are effectively utilised. https://www.stem.org.uk/rx35xh
Electricity, Transmission, and Distribution
This clip looks at how electricity is distributed from power station to consumers along the National Grid. As well as giving an overview of the entire distribution network, it also looks at how step up and step down transformers are used to reduce line loss during transmission and to make the voltage safe for use in homes. Other safety features, such as earth rods, insulators and circuit breakers are explained and this clip gives an insight into the part they play in larger scale systems.
Society Now: UK by Numbers
“I shall make electricity so cheap that only the rich can afford to burn candles” - Thomas Edison. This statement, taken from this at-a-glance overview of UK energy production and consumption, is ideal for capturing the interest of students as they enter the classroom.
The poster could be used in conjunction with the video 'How many light bulbs', to set a research project. Students can work in groups to produce presentations arguing for or against the increased use of a chosen energy source for power generation, considering the environmental impact, costs and suitability for the UK. They should include a clear description of the current picture and an explanation of why things need to change, before leading into their proposals to 'solve the energy crisis'.
How Many Light Bulbs Does It Take to Change a Man?
A thought provoking film which begs the question - what sources of energy will we use when fossil fuels run out and are we doing enough to prepare?
This film assumes a basic knowledge of some of the alternative sources of energy, and so could be used at the end of a lesson on different energy sources to leave the students with something to think about, or at the beginning of the topic to engage students.
Energy and Appliances
Looking at domestic fuel bills is a good way of illustrating how decisions on energy resources affect every one of us. This set of cards can be used as a starter activity when thinking about electrical appliances and domestic fuel bills.
The Challenge of Solar Power
Can the sun solve the world’s energy needs? We could produce enough electricity for the whole world using less than 1% of the area of the world’s deserts - so what’s stopping us? This film looks at how political and economical realities can either help or hinder the growth of solar energy.
Most students will have seen how a magnifying glass can focus light to produce a strong heating effect. The Seville power plant uses the same principle to generate electricity from solar energy. The clip makes it all look too good to be true – a clean and endless power source – so students could work in pairs to think of the possible reasons why this is not used as our main energy source at the moment.
Energy Connections Card Sort
This is a challenging card sort and would work well at the end of the topic to assess understanding. The task is to put the 16 cards into groups of 4 related cards, explaining why they are linked.
Whilst a set of answers is provided, there is never one solution to problems like this and students should feel free to justify their own answers.
Energy *suitable for home teaching*
This topic lends itself well to achieving a Crest Award, so why not introduce your students to the scheme? CREST Awards are not only endorsed by UCAS for use in personal statements, but they also enable students to develop skills which will help in their studies and which are valued by employers. For information on Crest Awards, have a look at the British Science Association website. There are bronze, silver and gold awards to aim for. CREST is not a competitive scheme, if your students meet the criteria, they will receive an award.
This project looks at the issues around providing sustainable energy in poor communities. It encourages students to investigate energy sources such as wind power, solar power, biofuels and fossil fuels. Students also look at how energy can be stored and distributed.
Energy Analyst *suitable for home teaching*
This is a great way to introduce the whole topic of energy sources.
Rebecca describes her role: "Basically I help choose which power stations EDF should build in the future. I rely on my science and maths knowledge every day. I need to understand how coal, gas, biomass and renewable energies work, and how they affect the environment, so that I can advise EDF Energy to make the right decision."
Resistance in a Wire
This simulation looks at resistance in a wire. Students can change the resistivity, length, and area to see how they affect the wire's resistance. The sizes of the symbols in the equation change along with the diagram of a wire as the variables are changed.
