Thinking about Electricity

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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

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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
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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?
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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 cant see. When we burn fossil fuels we put
lots of carbon dioxide into the air. This is a
cause of Global Warming.
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It takes millions of years to make fossil fuels

• What will happen when they run out?
• Because fossil fuels wont last for ever we call
  them non renewable. This means they cant be
  renewed.
• Look at a piece of coal think how long it took
  it to be formed. What is it like?

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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
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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?
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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?
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Renewables
Non-renewables
Were you right?
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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 worlds
  temperature believed to be mainly caused by the
  greenhouse effect
• Greenhouse effect warming of the earths
  surface caused by pollution from some gases
• Pollution too much of something we dont 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

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Renewables
Non-renewables
Were you right?
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