Thinking about Electricity

1. Thinking about Electricity Learning Objectives To know that we can make electricity in different ways. To begin to understand how the way we get electricity can affect our environment

2. Where does our electricity come from? • Electricity is made or generated in different ways. Can you think of some? • Most of our electricity is made using fossil fuels. What do you think these are? coal gas oil

3. Why do you think these are called fossil fuels? Millions of years ago, before the dinosaurs roamed the earth, lots of plants grew strong from the energy of the sun. Then they died and became buried in thick layers beneath lots of mud and soil. The remains of animals became buried as well. Over the millions of years, the mud and soil changed to rock and the layers above the rotting plants and animal remains grew heavier and heavier and thicker and thicker. All these organic remains (dead plants and animals) got squashed and a mixture of pressure and heat turned some organic material into coal, some into oil and some into natural gas. People found out that if they dug down deep enough and got these fossil fuels out, they could burn them to get energy. Can you act out this story?

4. So how do we get electricity from fossil fuels? • Most electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels in power stations. • Coal, oil and natural gas are burned in furnaces to heat up water. The boiling water makes steam which pushes the gigantic blades of a turbine to produce electricity. Power stations give off lots of steam which you can see. Power stations give off pollution, which you can’t see. When we burn fossil fuels we put lots of carbon dioxide into the air. This is a cause of Global Warming.

5. It takes millions of years to make fossil fuels • What will happen when they run out? • Because fossil fuels won’t last for ever we call them non – renewable. This means they can’t be renewed. • Look at a piece of coal – think how long it took it to be formed. What is it like?

6. Some countries use nuclear power Nuclear power plants use a material called uranium to produce electricity. Nuclear power plants make electricity by splitting tiny atoms of the uranium to release energy. Nuclear plants also have waste materials that are very dangerous and have to be looked after safely for thousands of years. Nuclear power plant

7. How else can we produce electricity? PV panels Wind turbines Water wheels These are some of the ways we can get ‘renewable’ energy. This means that the source of the energy will not run out. How is the electricity being generated?

8. Now watch the film of Cassop Primary School and see how they get their electricity How does your school get its electricity? Do you use any renewables?

9. Renewables Non-renewables Were you right?

10. Glossary • Atom – an incredibly tiny particle of matter • Electricity – the flow of electrical energy • Fuel – something that is burned to give heat • Furnace – a place where a fuel is burned, which gets very hot • Gas – something that is not a liquid nor a solid at ordinary temperatures (like air) • Generate – to produce electricity • Global warming – an increase in the world’s temperature believed to be mainly caused by the greenhouse effect • Greenhouse effect – warming of the earth’s surface caused by pollution from some gases • Pollution – too much of something we don’t want in the wrong place, causing harm • PV panel – a panel containing photovoltaic cells which convert energy from the sun into electrical energy • Turbine – a machine with blades that can be turned to generate power

11. Renewables Non-renewables Were you right?