hands-on energy and climate projects in schools chris waltham ubc physics & astronomy 2015.10.23
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Hands-on Energy and Climate Projects in Schools
Chris WalthamUBC Physics & Astronomy
2015.10.23
A large fraction of the energy we use is in the form of electricity; this has to be made from some other form of energy:
• Fossil fuels (burn)→ Heat (boiler) → Kinetic energy (turbine) → Electricity (generator)
• Biomass (burn)→ Heat (boiler) → Kinetic energy (turbine) → Electricity (generator)
• Hydro (solar/rain)→ Potential energy (dam) → Kinetic energy (turbine) → Electricity
• Wind (air flow) → Kinetic energy (turbine) → Electricity (generator)
• Solar (light) → Electricity (photovoltaics)
• Waves (solar/wind)→ Potential/kinetic energy (waves) → Kinetic energy (turbine) → Electricity (generator)
At each step energy is “lost” to heat
Background: Electricity Generation
Energy (J)
= Force (N) Distance (m) (Mechanical)
= Potential difference (V) Charge (C) (Electrical)
Background: Electricity Generation
Revisit: energy definition and foundation of SI units
Power (W)
= Force (N) Velocity (m/s) (Mechanical)
= Potential difference (V) Current (A) (Electrical)
Circumference of circle 20 cm
Period of revolution 2 s
Force 1 N (9.81 kg weight)
Mechanical Power = 0.2 W = 100 mW
Voltage reading = 0.5 V
Current reading = 100 mA
Electrical Power (heats load resistor) = 50 mW
Electrical conversion efficiency = 50 mW / 100 mW = 50%
Tactile! Feel what a newton is like, what 100 mW of output is like
Activity: Hand Crank Exercise
Using the geared motor as a generator and the supercapacitor for storage, students can feel the resistance to turning the generator when the supercap is connected into the circuit.
Beyond formal curriculum:
Air density, ≈ 1.2 kg/m3
So a swept area () of 0.1 m2 and a wind velocity of 3 m/s cannot produce any more power than 1 W.
You’ll be lucky if your turbine produces 100 mW.
Background: Wind Turbines for Energy
Sun → Heat → Linear kinetic energy of air
→ Rotational kinetic energy of blades/turbine → Electrical energy
How?
Factors that affect amount of power generated
Activity: Constructing a Wind Turbine
Similarly, water...?
Measure electrical output (simple voltage reading at lower grade levels)
Optimize blade configuration: possible at all grade levels
Optimize gear configuration (higher grade levels)
Optimize load (higher grade levels)
Hotter things radiate at smaller wavelengths, and vice versa
At 6000 K (e.g. the Sun’s surface), the peak power wavelength is 500 nm, middle of the visible range (green)
At 300 K (e.g. the Earth, us), the peak power wavelength is 10 μm, in the thermal infrared
i.e. 20 x the temperature, the peak power wavelength goes down by a factor 20
Background: Electromagnetic radiation
Anything with a non-zero temperature radiates electromagnetic energy with a broad spectrum
An infrared thermometer works by measuring the intensity of emitted thermal infrared
Activity: Playing with Infrared Thermometers
• Asphalt
• Grass
• Wet things
• Trees
• Car windows
• The sky
• Exterior of buildings
• Low-e glass
Environmental Measurements
Most dramatic variations on clear-sky days/nights
Learn how to collect data and produce a map
Background: The Greenhouse Effect
http://barrettbellamyclimate.com/page15.htm
Radiation from Sun and Earthmsemac.redwoods.edu
What gets throughour atmosphere
Activity: Measuring Passive Solar Heating
Use probe thermometers
Observe the temperature of small cubes of various colours and transparency exposed to direct sunlight
Need to take some care with experimental design
Watch the sky
Plot data as a function of time
Light → Electricity
Optimize power generated by photocell
Compare indoor and outdoor lighting levels
Activity: Photovoltaics and Lighting
Electricity → Light
Use kill-a-watt meter to show power requirements of various (household) light bulbs
Use hand-crank activity to estimate comparative efficiencies of small low-voltage light bulbs
Light → Electricity → Light
Use photocell to light a small bulbNote efficiency (qualitatively)
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