Lesson 5.2: Energy by Cameron Allton https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig en-us 2016-09-26 22:34:41 UTC 2025-03-22 03:28:01 UTC hello@padlet.com Fuels and Electricity cameron_allton https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126524800 Fossil fuels, such as coal, are utilized to produce electricity.  To due this, a generator must be used.  A conductive, electric material is moved through a magnetic field, which is then converted into usable electrical energy through a turbine.  As the turbine spins, electricity is produced. Steam produced from water heated by coal-fired, gas-fired, or nuclear plants is what makes the turbine spin.]]> 2016-09-26 22:36:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126524800 Energy Consumption and Production cameron_allton https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126525209 The top energy consumers in the world consist of the United States, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates. China's usage also more than doubled from 2001 to 2011. One-fourth of the U.S. energy usage is utilized for transportation. Countries such as Germany have much lower energy usage as they rely heavily on rail systems and are much smaller.]]> 2016-09-26 22:42:20 UTC https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126525209 Problems With Fossil Fuel Usage cameron_allton https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126525693 -air pollution (creates more CO2 emissions, makes breathing difficult, more difficult for plants to photosynthesize)
-land damage (digging for oil wells disturbs soil layers; fracking can disrupt the underground and make surface unsteady)
-resource depletion (running out of fossil fuels will either correlate to economical/societal crash or force us to rely on other resources and use those up as well
-spills (oil spills contaminate waters and kill aquatic organisms

]]> 2016-09-26 22:49:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126525693 Nuclear Power Plants cameron_allton https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126526170 Creating nuclear power is a simple concept: binding the nuclei of multiple atoms (fusion) to create more powerful energy/splitting the nuclei of atoms by unleashing many neutrons upon it to release more powerful energy (fission), using uranium as a catalyst. Heat released from the reaction heats water that produces steam, which then moves a turbine and creates electricity.]]> 2016-09-26 22:55:24 UTC https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126526170 Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power Plants cameron_allton https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126526569 Pros:
-Highly concentrated (more energy in a smaller area)
-No air pollution is emitted
-Less radioactive than coal-fired plants
-Reliable source

Cons
-Expen$ive
-Decreases competition (not good for economy/world rank)
-costs aren't yet stable/predictable
-waste disposal is difficult
-high danger potential]]> 2016-09-26 22:59:33 UTC https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126526569 Renewable Energy Sources cameron_allton https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126526992
  • Tidal power
    • -High tides enters a body of water behind a dam, and then the gate closes.  Once the tide lowers, the gate is opened and the water moves and spins a turbine.
    -Pros: renewable, creates no pollution
    -Cons: expensive, will not become a popular alternative, few geographical locations will suffice
    • Ocean Thermal Energy Conservation
    -The use of dramatic oceanic temperatures within the deep waters of the tropics.  Warm water is boiled and creates steam that spins a turbine, producing electricity.  Cold ocean water allows the steam to condense and be utilized again.
    -Pros: unknown
    -Cons: is not cost efficient, uses a lot of electricity to pump the water up, environmental afflictions are uncertain
    • Hydrogen
    -Electricity splits water molecules into hydrogen gas, which is then burned and used as fuel.
    -Pros: can be produced from anything with abundant hydrogen, hydrogen is incredibly abundant in the universe, releases no CO2 emissions as it doesn't contain any carbon
    -Cons: takes a lot of electricity to produce
    • Fuel cells
    -Electricity produced by combining hydrogen fuel and oxygen.
    -Pros: water is the only thing produced, can use anything containing hydrogen
    -Cons: unknown
    ]]>     2016-09-26 23:05:42 UTC https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126526992     Conservation VS Efficiency cameron_allton https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126528405 Energy efficiency is the percentage of energy that actually produces work. Example: a CFL bulb, as it utilizes less energy to produce the same work as an incandescent bulb. Energy conservation is the act of using less energy ("saving" energy) with any possible energy source. Example: turning off the lights in a room when you exit. ]]> 2016-09-26 23:30:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126528405 Alternative Technologies cameron_allton https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126528642
  • Hybrid cars
    • -smaller engines that utilize alternative fuels (EX: bio diesel) and electric motors when necessary
    -cost less to refuel, produce less emissions, cost about the same as a non-hybrid car
    -can store energy in the battery, engine can shut off to save fuel
    • Cogeneration
    -one fuel source produces two forms of usable energy
    ]]>     2016-09-26 23:34:35 UTC https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126528642     Why Conserve?  Why Efficiency? cameron_allton https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126529089 The most significant factor with both of these concepts is preservation of the planet. By decreasing the use of nonrenewable fuel sources, we can slow- if not stop- pollutant emissions into the atmosphere such as CO2 and smog that endanger both human health and producer ability to thrive. This would also stop the digging/drilling/pumping into the Earth to obtain these resources, putting the actual structure of the planet at less risk of thinks such as habitat destruction. Energy efficiency and conservation even have strong economic implications: conservation saves us money through less direct usage, and efficiency saves us money through better usage. If our economies prosper, we prosper. If we continue to prosper, we may have more funding to place on developing the technology that will allow us all to not only thrive as a human species but keep what's left of our planet vastly in tact. And perhaps even allow it the time and resources to regenerate.]]> 2016-09-26 23:41:23 UTC https://padlet.com/cameron_allton/zmsp1o473hig/wish/126529089