Renewable Energy
The energy demands of the human population are high, and meeting those demands with fossil-fuel powered generators has a great deal of environmental consequences. This unit covers alternative, renewable energy resources that have a much lower impact on the Earth. Students will learn the potential benefits of utilizing such sources of energy as the sun, wind, tides, heat from the Earth's mantle, and biomass.
Renewable Energy Lecture Powerpoint
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Purpose: This presentation covers the logistical challenges faced by our society as we try to harness renewable forms of energy. For each energy source, including solar, wind, and biomass, potential applications are given, and the challenges in using each resource are explained. This lecture includes a section discussing the importance of energy conservation and energy efficiency. A student notes outline is also available for this lecture.
Essential Concepts: Renewable energy, green energy, biomass, methane, fermentation, ethanol, gasahol, biofuel, biodiesel, dung, wood, wind power, wind farms, solar power, solar cells, photovoltaic cells, high temperature solar energy, passive solar heating, active solar heating, nickel metal hydride, lithium ion, batteries, tidal power, geothermal energy, energy efficiency, energy conservation.
Renewable Energy Notes Outline
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Purpose: Taking efficient notes can be a big challenge for many students, especially when working from a Powerpoint lecture. This outline gives students a means to take notes that guides them toward important concepts and avoids the pitfalls of writing word-for-word or simply not taking notes at all. The outline is written as a series of questions, fill-in-the-blanks, or diagrams. This outline is based on the Powerpoint lecture written specifically for this unit.
Essential Concepts: Renewable energy, green energy, biomass, methane, fermentation, ethanol, gasahol, biofuel, biodiesel, dung, wood, wind power, wind farms, solar power, solar cells, photovoltaic cells, high temperature solar energy, passive solar heating, active solar heating, nickel metal hydride, lithium ion, batteries, tidal power, geothermal energy, energy efficiency, energy conservation.
Modern Marvels: Hoover Dam
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Purpose: The Hoover Dam was groundbreaking when it was first constructed. The United States had never attempted to build a structure of that scale before. The dam was built primarily to control yearly flooding of the Colorado River, but it also contains hydroelectric generators which supply some of the electricity to Las Vegas. This episode of Modern Marvels documents the history of the dam, its construction, and its design.
Essential Concepts: Renewable energy, hydroelectric power, dams.
Renewable Energy Study Guide
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Purpose: Once the instruction for the unit is completed, students can complete this study guide to aid in their preparation for a written test. The study guide is divided into two sections: vocabulary and short answer questions. The vocabulary is taken directly form the lecture, sequentially. The short answer questions are meant to model the type they may see on the exam. This study guide is sequentually based on the Powerpoint lecture from this unit.
Essential Concepts: Renewable energy, green energy, biomass, methane, fermentation, ethanol, gasahol, biofuel, biodiesel, dung, wood, wind power, wind farms, solar power, solar cells, photovoltaic cells, high temperature solar energy, passive solar heating, active solar heating, nickel metal hydride, lithium ion, batteries, tidal power, geothermal energy, energy efficiency, energy conservation.
