Energy Sources (3/27-3/30)

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Summary:

This week we learned about different energy sources. Each energy source has its pros and cons which can be different or related to the other energy sources. We use energy sources to heat our homes, for lighting and other daily needs, water heating, air conditioning, refrigeration and more. Which energy source do you think is used the most?

Solar Energy

Have you every seen solar panels? Solar energy is a source of energy that comes from the sun. Solar energy is renewable, meaning that it is made of renewable and natural resources. The energy that comes from the sun is free, but making the solar panels to collect this energy is not free. While making solar panels, it produces methane which is not good for our environment. Solar energy is also affected by weather.

Hydropower

Water creates energy when it is captured and turned into electricity. The next source of energy is hydropower. Hydro power is cheap, clean, and renewable. The most used type of power plant for hydropower is a dam that stores water in a reservoir.The cons of hydropower are that while building the dams, there is damage, and it has an environmental impact.

Geothermal

Geothermal energy is the heat that comes from the Earth. Geothermal energy is not affected by weather and is cheap in use. Geothermal energy is made of non-renewable energy sources.

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy is made by splitting uranium atoms into smaller atoms, which causes the extra energy to be released as heat. Nuclear energy is cheap, clean, and gives lots of power. The cons of nuclear energy are that there is mining of uranium and environmental ruins. Also, it cannot be eliminated and can cause cancer or death.

Wind Energy

Have you ever seen wind turbines? Wind turbines convert kinetic energy which is in the wind into mechanical power which can be used for specific tasks. Wind energy is renewable, efficient, and clean. Some bad things are that it is expensive to maintain and is affected by weather.

Coal

Coal energy is the most used energy source because it is the cheapest and the easiest to get. What some people don't think about is that coal is bad for the environment because it pollutes the air, and is made of non-renewable materials.

Natural Gases

Natural gases are good for the air because they are less polluting than some other energy sources such as coal. Natural gasses are methane-based and gives less energy than other sources. Natural gases are non renewable sources of energy. Natural gases are a combination of many gases including propane, butane, carbon dioxide, ethane, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide, but it is mainly made of methane.

SP8: Obtain, evaluate and communicate information

In class, we obtained information about the energy source we were learning about. We answered questions about our energy source that helped us to evaluate the information that we gathered.We communicated our findings clearly and persuasively when each group presented what we learned and the pros and cons of our energy source. 


Energy Source
Pro
Con
Solar Energy
Solar energy is free and clean.
Solar panels are not free and produce methane. This energy source is affected by weather.
Hydropower
Hydropower is cheap, clean and renewable.
Building the dams has an environmental impact.
Geothermal
Geothermal energy is not affected by weather, and is cheap when it is in use.
Geothermal energy is non renewable.
Nuclear
Nuclear energy is cheap, clean, and has lots of power.
Nuclear energy needs the mining of uranium, has environmental impacts, cannot be eliminated, and can cause cancer or death.
Wind
Wind energy is renewable, efficient, and clean.
Wind energy is expensive to maintain and is affected by weather.
Coal
Coal is easy to get.
Coal energy is bad for the environment because it pollutes the air and is non renewable.
Natural Gases
Natural gases are clean and less polluting than other energy sources.
Natural gases and methane based, give little energy and and non renewable.

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