Energy and your Environment

 

INTRODUCTION

Energy and your Environment presents energy concepts in an interdisciplinary context. This presentation guide provides answers to questions and problems, as well as extension and discussion tips for each page.

Page 2: Your Environment Is Energetic

Answers to questions about the illustrations:
• Energy is released when ice melts; therefore ice exhibits potential energy.
• The ocean waves depict kinetic energy. The water at the top of the waves posess potential energy.
• The sprinters represent kinetic energy. There is stored energy within their muscles (& whole bodies).
• The jelly beans depict potential energy that can be released when the beans are eaten.

Page 3: We Get Energy from the Environment

Answers to What Do You Think?
1. The electric dryer method depends on the kinetic energy of either water-driven turbines (hydropower) or steam-driven turbines (fossil fuel or nuclear energy) to generate the electricity needed to power the dryer. The clothesline approach depends on the kinetic energy of the wind and the sun (heat) to dry the clothes.
2. The electric dryer method uses non-renewable resources unless the electricity was generated by water, wind or solar power. The clothesline method uses renewable resources.
3. The energy that is in fossil fuels came from plants and animals that stored the sun's energy in their tissues.

Extension: Ask students to explain why wood is a renewable form of energy, while coal is not.

Page 4: Energy Use in the Environment Has Changed Over Time

Answers to Imagine
Students' answers should reveal logical thinking skills as well as whether they have studied the timeline. (Students can assume that fire has been discovered for the prehistoric time period.)

Extension: Discuss as a class how to prepare a meal in the three different time periods. What technologies would be used? What kinds of fuel would be used? (e.g. prehistoric—open wood fire; 200 years ago—wood or coal burned in fireplace or brick oven; 1990s—gas fire or electric heat in kitchen range or oven.)

Page 5: Energy Production Affects the Environment in Many Ways

Answers to chart: Environmental Impacts*
• Fossil Fuels: smog, release of greenhouse gases, acid precipitation, water and soil contamination, hazardous waste generation
• Nuclear: highly hazardous waste, accidental radiation exposure
• Hydropower: destruction or alteration of plant and animal habitats
• Wood: deforestation, air pollution (release of greenhouse gases, soot)
• Solar: no significant environmental impacts from power generation

* All energy resources have environmental impacts associated with manufacture of equipment used in energy production and delivery of electricity. Some have impacts associated with transportation of fuel.