Science at key stage 3 (Year 9)
Unit 9I: Energy and electricity
Section 10: a. Where do we get electricity from?
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Objectives |
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- that electricity can be made to flow by causing movement in an electrical generator
- that fossil fuels, nuclear fuels and renewable energy sources can be used to drive electrical generators
- to follow instructions carefully to construct and/or test a generator
- that electrical energy cannot be stored
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Activities |
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Outcomes |
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Children: |
- Elicit ideas about where mains electricity comes from. Trace the story back to a power station.
- Demonstrate a bicycle dynamo or simple generator. Show how increasing (energy) input will increase (energy) output.
- Use a small motor as an electrical generator, or make one from a kit, and test its output using a sensitive meter. Possibly drive it using a windmill to simulate wind turbines. Plan a visit, show a video or use information resources such as a CD-ROM to introduce pupils to the generation of electricity in power stations. Contrast the scale of the operation with laboratory generators, and consider the fuels used.
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- identify a range of energy resources used to generate electricity
- describe a simple electrical generator
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Points to note |
- Details of how a generator works are not required at this stage. Some pupils, however, might like to compare the device with the electric motor. It has the same structure, but with input and outputs reversed.
- The role of Michael Faraday in laying the foundations for electricity generation could link with the history area of study 'Britain 1750-1900'.
- Pupils are often surprised to realise that electricity is generated 'on demand' and that commercial breaks on TV can increase demand, so that workers at power stations have to increase the supply to provide for the nation's electric kettles.
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This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of
activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by
moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.
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