Nicole McMahon
ndmcmaho@mtu.edu
Title: Production of Electricity
Drawings: Worksheets attached
Objective: To teach the generation of electricity from the energy source to appliances.
Materials needed:
Group worksheets/pencils
1 balloon per student
Time duration: 50 minutes
Vocabulary:
Energy – the ability to do work
Electricity – the flow of electrical power or charge (secondary energy source); the movement of
electrons between atoms
Watt – unit of power in which electricity is measured
Current – movement of electricity
Electrical Generator – a device that converts mechanical or chemical energy to electricity
Turbine – an electrical generator in which a magnet rotates around of coiled wire to produce
electrical current
Transformer – a device that allows electricity to be efficiently transported long distances
Introduction/Background (10 mins): Introduce the concept of electricity and how it has revolutionized
our lives. Emphasize our dependence on electricity and how we take it for granted. Introduce a
few key inventors (Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla). Introduce energy sources
pictured below (electricity is a secondary energy source). Talk about the process from energy
source to toaster (source, boiler, generator, transformer, home) using coal as an example. Main
energy sources in Michigan (coal, natural gas, nuclear).
Demonstration (5 mins): Have each student blow up a balloon and rub it on their head, making their
hair stand up and the balloon stick to their head. Ask the student why they think this is
happening. Explain that rubbing the balloon against the hair transfers electrons to the hairs on
their head. The abundance of negative charges repel making the hair stand up. Also, because
electrons have moved from the balloon, the balloon is positively charged, the hair negatively
charged, and the opposite charges attract each other. Static electricity.
Nicole McMahon
ndmcmaho@mtu.edu
Source: EIA, Annual Energy Review (2008)
Activity (25 min): Power Companies
Divide the students into groups, and have each group decide which primary energy source they
would like to work. Give each group a worksheet which will have them illustrate the generation
of electricity from their chosen energy source to an assigned appliance and finally have them
calculate usage rates.
Assessment/Evaluation (10 min): Have each group briefly explain their worksheet to the class.
Resources:
http://www.need.org/needpdf/SecThermalEnergyPuttoWork.pdf
http://www.scholastic.com/coal/coal-poster.pdf
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/lessonplan.jsp?id=1130
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/index.cfm
Nicole McMahon
ndmcmaho@mtu.edu
Primary Energy Source: _________________________________________________________________
Explain/draw the process of production of electricity from beginning to end (energy source to the
consumer).
TOASTER
Suppose your toaster consumes 500 Watts of electricity. You are going to toast 24 pieces of bread (one
at a time), and each piece of toast takes 5 minutes. How much electricity are you consuming to cook the
toast? If each kWh (kilowatt-hour) of electricity costs $0.10, how much does it cost to toast the bread?
To calculate how much electricity you are using, you have to calculate the kWh (kilowatt-hour), which is
the watts of electricity multiplied by the number of hours the appliance is in use.
_____ pieces of toast x _____ minutes per piece = _____ minutes = _____ hour(s)
_______ watts x ______ hours = _______ Wh = _______ kWh
To calculate the cost, you have to multiply the amount of electricity by the unit price.
_______ kWh x ______ unit price = $________
Nicole McMahon
ndmcmaho@mtu.edu
Primary Energy Source: _________________________________________________________________
Explain/draw the process of production of electricity from beginning to end (energy source to the
consumer).
MICROWAVE
Suppose your microwave consumes 1000 Watts of electricity. You are going to cook 6 TV Dinners (one
at a time) that each take 5 minutes. How much electricity are you consuming to cook the dinners? If
each kWh (kilowatt-hour) of electricity costs $0.10, how much does it cost to cook the dinners?
To calculate how much electricity you are using, you have to calculate the kWh (kilowatt-hour), which is
the watts of electricity multiplied by the number of hours the appliance is in use.
_____ dinners x _____ minutes per dinner = _____ minutes = _____ hour(s)
_______ watts x ______ hours = _______ Wh = _______ kWh
To calculate the cost, you have to multiply the amount of electricity by the unit price.
_______ kWh x ______ unit price = $________
Nicole McMahon
ndmcmaho@mtu.edu
Primary Energy Source: _________________________________________________________________
Explain/draw the process of production of electricity from beginning to end (energy source to the
consumer).
TELEVISION
Suppose your television consumes 5000 Watts of electricity. You are going to watch four episodes of
SpongeBob SquarePants, each 30 minutes long. How much electricity are you consuming to watch the
shows? If each kWh (kilowatt-hour) of electricity costs $0.10, how much does it cost to watch the shows?
To calculate how much electricity you are using, you have to calculate the kWh (kilowatt-hour), which is
the watts of electricity multiplied by the number of hours the appliance is in use.
_____ episodes x _____ minutes per episode = _____ minutes = _____ hour(s)
_______ watts x ______ hours = _______ Wh = _______ kWh
To calculate the cost, you have to multiply the amount of electricity by the unit price.
_______ kWh x ______ unit price = $________
Nicole McMahon
ndmcmaho@mtu.edu
Primary Energy Source: _________________________________________________________________
Explain/draw the process of production of electricity from beginning to end (energy source to the
consumer).
ELECTRIC OVEN
Suppose your oven consumes 3000 Watts of electricity. You are going to cook 6 pies (one at a time),
each for 30 minutes. How much electricity are you consuming to cook the dinners? If each kWh
(kilowatt-hour) of electricity costs $0.10, how much does it cost to cook the dinners?
To calculate how much electricity you are using, you have to calculate the kWh (kilowatt-hour), which is
the watts of electricity multiplied by the number of hours the appliance is in use.
_____ pies x _____ minutes per pie = _____ minutes = _____ hour(s)
_______ watts x ______ hours = _______ Wh = _______ kWh
To calculate the cost, you have to multiply the amount of electricity by the unit price.
_______ kWh x ______ unit price = $________