3rd MP Project
EHS - 2011
Physics 1Seminar
Mr. Zadrozny
Alternative Energy Project
The need for reliable energy is critical to people around the world. Whether used to run factories, heat and
power our homes, cook our food, transport us or bring us the Internet, everybody uses energy. For the past
150+ years, fossil fuels have been the main source of energy used by developed countries. However, as
demand for these energy sources increase and concern for their environment impact grows, the opportunity
for developing new sources of energy is becoming more politically and economically attractive.
Working with your assigned group, you will select an alternative energy source and assess its potential for
addressing the energy needs of our country in the next 5 – 10 years. Specifically, you are to consider the
available technology, potential supply, cost and environment impact of this energy source as well as the
ability to it distribute it to where it will be used. You should compare your choice to a traditional energy
sources and consider how consumers will accept any needed changes to their current energy use habits.
Your grade will be in two parts: a written report that follows the outline below, and a formal presentation.
Your written report should include the following sections:
Introduction:
5 pts
A clear statement of the problem, as you see it, that is driving the need for alternative energy
sources and a brief summary of how your energy source will address this problem
Technology Status
10 pts
How does this new energy source work? What technical problems need to be solved before
it is readily available? How reliable is the energy that it will produce? What changes, if any,
will businesses and consumers need to make in order to use it?
Economics
10 pts
What are the raw materials needed to generate this energy? How much will it cost to build
generation facilities? How much will the energy it produces cost consumers? How does the
cost of energy from this source compare energy from the fossil fuel source it will replace?
Thermodynamic Balance:
How energy efficient is this source? How much energy is used to generate the energy
produced from this new source? Consider the energy to build the generation facilities.
5 pts
Fungibility
What fossil energy source(s) will it replace? How easily will this change occur?
What percent of our total energy needs will this source be able to provide in 5 – 10 years?
5 pts
Social and Environmental Impacts
What are the environmental tradeoffs involved in using this energy source?
What objections might people raise against the use of this energy source?
5 pts
Conclusions:
What role would you recommend for this source in our nation’s future energy policy?
5 pts
References:
5– 10 quality references from a diverse list of sources including:
Government, Public Policy, Universities, Industry & Research Institutes
10 pts
Grammar / Comprehension / Paragraph Structure / Organization
10 pts
Total Report Score
65 pts
Your written report is due Mar 23, 2011. Typed, double-spaced, 4-6 pages for groups of 3 people, 5-7
pages for groups of 4 people. Use MLA format with embedded footnotes for specific information cited.
3rd MP Project
EHS - 2011
Physics 1Seminar
Mr. Zadrozny
Your group will report its findings Mar 23-35 in a 6-8 minute presentation, 8 – 10 min. for groups
of 4 people. Your grade will be based on how well you present information following the outline
given for the written report and scored as follows:
Introduction
Technology Status
Economics
Social and Environmental Impacts
Fungibility
Thermodynamic Balance:
Conclusions
Question and Answer Session
Presentation Quality (see grading rubric)
5 pts
10 pts
10 pts
5 pts
5 pts
5 pts
5 pts
5 pts
10 pts
Total Presentation Score
60 pts
Maximum Project Score
125 pts
Written Report Grading Rubric:
Points
Criteria
10
8–9
6–7
4–5
2 -3
0–1
Report approaches the maximum length, no grammatical errors or typos and is very well organized
Report is average or more in length, has 1-2 errors per page, is well organized
Report meets the minimum length, has no errors and is very well organized
Report is somewhat less than the minimum length, has no errors and is very well organized
Report meets the minimum length and has 1 – 2 errors per page average and is well organized
Report is average or above in length and has 3-4 errors per page average and is not well organized
Report is less than the minimum length and has 1-2 errors per page average and is well organized
Report meets the minimum length and has 3 -4 errors per page average and is not well organized
Report is average or above in length and has 5- 6 errors per page average and no clear organization
Report is less than the minimum length and has 3-4 errors per page average, is not well organized
Report meets the minimum length and has 5 – 6 errors per page average and no clear organization
Report is average or above in length and has more than 6 errors per page average, is well organized
Report is less than the minimum length and has 5 or more errors per page average no organization
Report meets the minimum length, has more than 6 errors per page average and no organization
Presentation Grading Rubric:
Points
Criteria
10
8–9
6–7
4–5
2 -3
0–1
Presentation approaches the maximum length, has substantial use of graphics and minimal words
Presentation meets the minimum length and has substantial use of graphics, minimal words
Presentation is average or above in length and has significant use of graphics, moderate words
Presentation is less than the minimum length, has substantial use of graphics and minimal words
Presentation meets the minimum length and has significant use of graphics, moderate # of words
Presentation is average or above in length and has moderate use of graphics, a majority of words
Presentation is less than the minimum length, has significant use of graphics, moderate # of words
Presentation meets the minimum length and has moderate use of graphics, a majority of words
Presentation is average or above in length and has minimal graphics, mostly words
Presentation is less than the minimum length, has moderate use of graphics and a majority of words
Presentation meets the minimum length, has minimal graphics and is mostly words
Presentation is average or above in length, no graphics or contains overly wordy slides
Presentation is less than the minimum length and has minimal graphics
Presentation meets the minimum length, no graphics or contains overly wordy slides
Add 1 point for the first animated graphic demo and ½ point for each additional animation demo.
Deduct 1 point for every 20 seconds you run over your time limit
Videos over 15 s in length will not count towards your time limit
Physics 1Seminar
Mr. Zadrozny
Alternative Energy Technologies:
1- Wind Power
2 - Photo-Voltaic Cells
Energy from solar electromagnetic radiation
3 - Passive Solar
Energy from solar radiant heat energy
4 - Tidal Energy
5 - Wave Energy
6 - Nuclear Power
7 - Hydrogen Fuel Cells
8 – Geothermal Energy
9 – Biofuels - Biomass specifically growth to produce fuel
Not Corn Ethanol
10 – BioMass - Waste biomass that can be converted into fuel
11 - Electric Powered Cars
Must explain where the electric power comes from
12 - Other??? Not Fusion
One Alt Energy source per section
Commercial Information Sources
Wind Power
ABB Ltd. Turbine manufacturer
Windtec, wind turbine designer
American Superconductor, wind turbine manufacturer
Solar Power
US Solar Energy Industry Association
Solargenix Energy, LLC, solar energy plant developer
Biomass
International Paper
Weyerhaeuser Co.
Koch Industries
Georgia Pacific
California Biomass Collaborative
Geothermal
Calpine Corp
Biofuels
Archer Daniels Midland
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
United Technologies
Research Universities
Rice U.: Houston Advanced Research Center
Nuclear Power
Greenspirit Strategies, Ltd
National Geographic – April 2006 edition
3rd MP Project
EHS - 2011
3rd MP Project
EHS - 2011
Physics 1Seminar
Mr. Zadrozny
Alternative Energy Project Presentation Scoring Sheet
Student(s) __________________________________
Period ________
Score _____
Introduction
5 pts
_______
Technology Status
10 pts
______
Economics
10 pts
______
Social and Environmental Impacts
5 pts
______
Fungibility
5 pts
______
Thermodynamic Balance
5 pts
______
Conclusion
5 pts
______
Q & A Session
5 pts
______
Presentation Quality
10 pts
______
60 pts
______
Total Time:
Total Score
3rd MP Project
EHS - 2011
Physics 1Seminar
Mr. Zadrozny
Alternative Energy Project Paper Scoring Sheet
Students ____________________________________
Period ________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Score ______
Presentation Score ______
Total Score ______ / 125
Introduction
5 pts
______
Technology Status
10 pts
______
Economics
10 pts
______
Social and Environmental Impacts
5 pts
______
Fungibility
5 pts
______
Thermodynamic Balance
5 pts
______
Conclusions:
5 pts
______
Report Quality
10 pts
______
References
10 pts
______
65 pts
______
Total Score