energyThe ability to do work or cause change

Examples – kinetic or potential

Non-example – matter, ideas

Related Words – forms, sources, transfer, transformation

energy sourcesThe places where we get energy from for heat and electricity

Examples – coal, sun, wind

Non-example – socket, batteries

Related Words – renewable, nonrenewable

Source: Solarhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6UgO6-HELc

1. The sun shines down onto solar panels.

2. The sunshine hits the solar panels and the electrons transform the sunlight.

3. The panel transforms the light into electricity.

FACTS: Solar energy is a renewable energy that does not create any pollution. The light is free so after the panels are in place it doesn’t cost anything to generate electricity. In fact, if you have panels on your home and you make more electricity than you need you can sell it to the power companies! One of the downsides to solar panels is that they are expensive to buy and some people think they are ugly. Also, you can only harvest light during the day so you have to have a battery mechanism that is storing the electricity for night time or when there is poor weather.

Source: Uraniumhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U6Nzcv9Vws

1. Uranium atoms are split in a Nuclear Power Plant and TONS of heat is released.

2. The heat from the atom boils water.

3. The boiling water turns into steam

4. The steam spins a turbine 5. The turbine

spins the coil inside of a generator.

6. The generator produces electricity.

FACTS: Nuclear energy produces massive amounts of electricity. It is very efficient. It creates dangerous radioactive material and this must be stored safely. This is a nonrenewable resource that produces ZERO carbon emissions or pollutants.

Source: Natural Gas

1.Natural gas is drilled for and brought to the power plant

2. The gas is burned.

3.The thermal energy from the burning gas boils water

4. The boiling water forms steam

5. The steam spins a turbine

6. The turbine spins the coil inside of a generator.

7. The generator produces electricity.

FACTS: Natural gas is a fossil fuel that is drilled for all over the world. It is a commonly used source for making electricity in the United States. Natural gas is becoming more popular because we have lot of it in the US. We transport it through pipe lines across the United States. Natural gas is a nonrenewable source that when burned produces harmful carbon emissions (gases). Natural gas creates fewer harmful gases than coal. They call this burning more cleanly. Drilling for natural gas is less harmful to the landscape than drilling for coal. Natural gas is a cost effective way to make electricity.

Source: Hydroelectric

1. Moving water rushes over the dam.

2. The water runs over the turbine, spinning it.

3. The turbine spins the coil inside of a generator.

4. The generator produces electricity.

FACTS: Hydroelectric is a renewable energy source. It creates no pollution but can interfere with the movement of some aquatic life. When certain fish move upstream it keeps them from getting to their spawning sites. It produces a lot energy and many dams are already in place, they just need the generator/turbine system added.

Source: Wind

1. Blowing wind spins a turbine

2. The turbine spins the coil inside of a generator.

3. The generator produces electricity.

FACTS: Wind is a free renewable energy source. It costs to build the turbines, but once constructed they produce electricity efficiently. Some individuals do not like living near wind turbines because of noise. It creates zero pollution but can interfere with birds.

Source: Biomass

1.Biomass is harvested from forests or fields and brought to the power plant

2. The biomass is burned.

3.The thermal energy from the burning biomass boils water

4. The boiling water forms steam

5. The steam spins a turbine

6. The turbine spins the coil inside of a generator.

7. The generator produces electricity.

FACTS: Biomass is plant material or other organic (once living) material that we burn to make electricity. We also use some plant materials to make biofuels for vehicles. Biomass burns more cleanly than fossil fuels, but when we use crops for biofuels we are taking away from the food supply. Biomass is renewable resource and it helps take carbon gases out of the air while it is growing.

Source: Coalhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wySZl6JIwQw

1.Coal is mined and brought to the power plant

2. The coal is burned.

3.The thermal energy from the burning coal boils water

4. The boiling water forms steam

5. The steam spins a turbine

6. The turbine spins the coil inside of a generator.

7. The generator produces electricity.

FACTS: Coal is a fossil fuel that is mined for all over the world. It is the most commonly used source for making electricity in the United States. Coal is a nonrenewable source that when burned produces harmful carbon emissions (gases). Coal is cheap and we have a lot of it so we choose to use it. Mining for coal does damage to the landscape.

Source: Geothermal

1. We drill into the Earth to harvest Geothermal Heat

2. The heat from the Earth boils water.

3. The boiling water turns into steam

4. The steam spins a turbine 5. The turbine

spins the coil inside of a generator.

6. The generator produces electricity.

FACTS: Geothermal energy is a renewable resource that comes from the center of the Earth. It has a lot of upfront cost because you have to drill and place the pipes in the line. You can also hit gas pockets and there is then a risk for explosion. But if done properly, geothermal is a completely clean energy source that is renewable

and free after you put in the system. It is also very efficient.

TURBINE: fan-like device that spins the generator

GENERATOR: instrument that generates an electric charge