Renewable Resources Webquest
- Use the following link to help you complete the questions on energy.
1) How do scientists define energy? The ability to work.
2) Explain the law of conservation of energy. Give examples of energy transformations. Energy is not created or destroyed and does not disappear.
3) What is energy efficiency? Types of systems giving you useful energy.
4) What does it mean for energy to be nonrenewable? Renewable? Nonrenewable- limited supply, Renewable- unlimited supply.
5) According to the “U.S. Energy Consumption by Energy Source, 2012”, what percentage of energy that we use is renewable? What percent is nonrenewable? Renewable- 10%, Nonrenewable- 90%
- Renewable Energy Sources
- “Solar”
8) Solar energy is converted into what energy? Chemical.
9) Give two examples of how solar energy is used. Electric/thermal power plants and photovoltaic devices.
10) What do solar cells do? The are grouped into panels that charge batteries, powering homes and power plants.
11) What do solar power plants do? Concentrate solar energy to heat fluids and produces steam to power generators.
12) What are the 2 main disadvantages to solar energy? Sunlight is not consistent, not much solar energy is given to one spot.
13) Explain how solar energy is beneficial for the environment. Do not produce any pollutants, and has very minimal enviromental impacts.
- “Wind.”
15) What did American colonists use windmills for? To generate electricity.
16) What do wind machines produce?
17) Describe a wind power plant.
18) Describe the negative effects of wind machines. Some people do not like the sight of wind turbines, and it produces loud noises.
- “Geothermal”
20) What is geothermal energy? Heat found inside the Earth.
21) Geothermal energy is generated in the core within the earth.
22) Where is geothermal energy found? Hydrothermal resources.
23) Name 2 ways people have used direct geothermal energy?
24) Describe how has Iceland used geothermal energy? A heating system is used to heat the majority of the buildings in a certain district in Iceland.
- “Biomass”
26) Name 5 things that are biomass materials. Garbage, crops, alcohol fuels, landfill gases and wood.
27) What is the most common biomass material? Wood.
28) 84% of wood energy is used where? In industries in the U.S.
29) How can biomass energy be negative to the environment? Burning fossil fuels and biomass emits CO2.
- “Hydroelectric.”
31) What 3 states hold over one-half of the total U.S. hydroelectric capacity for electricity? California, Washington, Oregon.
32) Most dams in the United States were not built to provide electricity, but for_irrigation_ and _flood control_.
- “Ocean”
34) Compare wind turbines and wave turbines. Tidal turbines must be heavier and sturdier than wind turbines, due to water being denser than wind. Tidal turbines are more costly, but capture more energy.
35) Not only could the ocean provide us with tidal energy, but __ energy.
36) What is Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion? It is a system that uses a difference in temperature to produce energy by operating a turbine.
37) Since the ocean expands almost two-thirds of the Earth, it makes sense to use that open ocean to provide us with energy. What are the two forms of energy have scientists considered placing over the open ocean?
- “Use of Energy”
- “Residential- homes.”
40) What is the most used type of energy in the home? Space heating.
41) How much energy does the United States use?
42) The average American consumes __ more energy than the world average.
Identify 5 different ways in which we can conserve energy. 1) Turning off the lights when we leave a room
2) Recycling aluminum cans
3) Turning off machines when they're not in use
4) Using a fluorescent light bulb
5) Using energy-efficient appliances
Renewable Energy Game/Facts
India- 3 solar, 1 hydro, 1 wind
Japan- 3 solar, 2 geothermal
U.S.A.- 3 solar, 2 wind
Canada- 2 tidal, 2 wind, 1 solar
France- 3 geothermal, 2 wind
Norway- 3 tidal, 2 hydro
New Zealand- 2 tidal, 3 geothermal, 1 wind
Facts:
1) Tides and currents make mechanical energy
2) The trapped water and gravity creates hydro-electrical energy
3) Geothermal energy uses the earth's heat to obtain power.
4) A wind turbine must have a rotor, gearbox, and a generator in order to work.
5) Solar cells have a positive and negative side.
Japan- 3 solar, 2 geothermal
U.S.A.- 3 solar, 2 wind
Canada- 2 tidal, 2 wind, 1 solar
France- 3 geothermal, 2 wind
Norway- 3 tidal, 2 hydro
New Zealand- 2 tidal, 3 geothermal, 1 wind
Facts:
1) Tides and currents make mechanical energy
2) The trapped water and gravity creates hydro-electrical energy
3) Geothermal energy uses the earth's heat to obtain power.
4) A wind turbine must have a rotor, gearbox, and a generator in order to work.
5) Solar cells have a positive and negative side.
Honors Earth and Env. Science Post Reflection
1. Describe yourself as a student in Mr. Dillman’s class. Are you happy with your performance? I am often ready to come to class prepared both physically and mentally and I am 100% willing to learn new things. I consider myself as a great listener. Though, I tend to take myself seriously and have a hard time with managing my time, as well as asking others for help. I often tend to forget to complete assignments that were given to me. I feel that my performance is just adequate, but I know that I can do better.
2. Describe the strategies you used this semester to meet your academic goals in the class.
3. Describe 3 aspects of the class that you liked. 1) I very much liked the technological features of this class.
2)
4. Describe 3 aspect of the class that you did NOT like. The only thing I had some minor issues with in this class, was the majority of assignments given to me in this class were digital. Meaning that if I had no computer at home, it was hard to keep up with the work assigned to me. Other than that, I enjoyed this class!
5. Were there any aspects of the class caused you to struggle academically? If so, Which ones? None!
6. Did you like the aspect of completing an online virtual notebook instead of a physical notebook? If so, why? If not, why? I enjoyed it very much. Since evrything is done online, it saves paper ans space, rather than having to carry an extra notebook around everyday.
7. What improvements do you think could be made to the online virtual notebook that would make that aspect of the class better? None!
8. If you could give advice to future Honors Earth and Env. Science students taking Mr. Dillman’s class what 3 pieces of advice would you give? 1) Don't procrastinate. Ever.
2) Study, study, study!
3) Be engaged in listening to instructions.
9. If you could go back and do things differently in Mr. Dillman’s Honors Earth and Env. Science class what would you do differently? Manage my time more appropriately.
10. Any other advice for Mr. Dillman in teaching this class in future semesters? No, I have none!
2. Describe the strategies you used this semester to meet your academic goals in the class.
3. Describe 3 aspects of the class that you liked. 1) I very much liked the technological features of this class.
2)
4. Describe 3 aspect of the class that you did NOT like. The only thing I had some minor issues with in this class, was the majority of assignments given to me in this class were digital. Meaning that if I had no computer at home, it was hard to keep up with the work assigned to me. Other than that, I enjoyed this class!
5. Were there any aspects of the class caused you to struggle academically? If so, Which ones? None!
6. Did you like the aspect of completing an online virtual notebook instead of a physical notebook? If so, why? If not, why? I enjoyed it very much. Since evrything is done online, it saves paper ans space, rather than having to carry an extra notebook around everyday.
7. What improvements do you think could be made to the online virtual notebook that would make that aspect of the class better? None!
8. If you could give advice to future Honors Earth and Env. Science students taking Mr. Dillman’s class what 3 pieces of advice would you give? 1) Don't procrastinate. Ever.
2) Study, study, study!
3) Be engaged in listening to instructions.
9. If you could go back and do things differently in Mr. Dillman’s Honors Earth and Env. Science class what would you do differently? Manage my time more appropriately.
10. Any other advice for Mr. Dillman in teaching this class in future semesters? No, I have none!