AHL – TOPIC 8: ENERGY
(9hrs)
8.1 Historical overview
8.1.1There are 2 main types:
• Kinetic & Potential
• K = energy of a moving object e.g moving football, a
falling stone etc. The greater the speed at which it is
moving the greater its K energy e.g. a hammer posses K
energy as it strikes a nail into the wood
• P= energy in an object, due to its position or
arrangements of parts i.e. gravitational, elastic, chemical
& electromagnetic. Like K it can be used to do useful
work e.g. in a hydroelectric generating station, water falls
from a high level to a lower level and does work on the
turbines.
• Gravitational Potential Energy:- is produced
when object is lifted up & work done against
force of gravity….as object falls potential energy
is converted to kinetic.
• Elastic Potential Energy:- is produced when an
object such as spring or rubber band resists
being stretched out of shape. Energy from
deformation of the band can be converted into
kinetic energy and used to do work e.g. spin
propeller on toy airoplane.
• Chemical Potential Energy:- is the energy that
holds molecules together e.g. combustion of
fossil fuels releases energy, which can be used
to do work.
• Electromagnetic Potential Energy:- can be
stored in a battery or supplied from a power
plant, hydroelectric dam / windmill.
• Thermal Energy:- Movement of molecules that
make up the object. All objects posses thermal
energy (even cold ones) Since they have
temperature above 0.
8.1.2
• Human muscle power was the only source
of energy for (craft) production until the
Industrial Revolution (1760 -1860)
• Arts and Crafts Movement – William
Morris and joy of the aesthetic – long
hours, painstaking detail.
Human muscle power
• Prior to the Industrial Revolution, people’s energy was
spent on agriculture, building of towns and cities and
transportation. Human’s and specifically mules were to
drive machines. An example of this is tiller the ground by
ox as still done in vast amounts of developing countries.
This motion generated energy to drive the machine.
Other examples include windmills, used in Spain for
grinding corn, and sailing ships-such as that used by the
Egyptians and the Vikings. Muscle still continues to offer
sources of energy and power simple machines in several
parts of the world today.
Craft Production
• Craft production:- manufacturing process using manual
skill e.g. pottery, being often craft-produced.
• It is often seen as prestigious e.g. Luis Vuitton luxury
crafted tailored bag, as unique. Early Ford auto-mobiles
were developed from the bicycle and assembled in this
manner, resulting in some problematic outcomes
resulted from the human error in the production process.
• One-Off production:- one or a few items are produced.
More would contribute to be batch or volume production.
• e.g. jewellery, shaker furniture, individual fashion, homes
etc
Industrial Revolution
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Dates:- between the late 1700’s and the early 1800’s marked by the rise of new inventions, such
as the steam engine perfected by James Watt, for the advancement of transportation, industry,
and agriculture.
All kinds of goods were mass-produced, including textiles, iron and metal goods, and pottery.
These goods were then sold in the domestic market and as exports to customers abroad.
Hand craft: A skill, especially involving practical arts. It may refer to a trade or a particular art.
Many started out as Cottage industries i.e manufacturing of products at a workshop or at home
rather than in a factory taking orders directly from the customer. This saved on labour and costs of
taking care of their own equipment.
The invention of the steam engine meant manufacturing became mechanised. Energy production
increased. This led to an engineering and production boom.
Consequently, there was a need for a new set of people with non-traditional skills. Whereas before
the client/consumer might go to the designer/craftsman because of the cottage industry, now, the
designer mightn’t necessarily be the same person as the craftsman. References (MLA Format)
Industrial Revolution.Wikipedia.com.23 April 2008. April 30, 2008.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution
"Cottage industry" InvestorWords.com. WebFinance, Inc. April 30, 2008
http://www.investorwords.com/1163/cottage+industry.html
“Industry and Economy”. EHS.org.May 4, 2008.
http://www.ehs.org.uk/industrialrevolution/PH_index.htm#Intro
8.1.3 Development of machines based upon
flowing water revolutionalised production
• The invention of the water wheel realised the
harnessing of energy for production.
• Hydro-power (energy from water) was used by
the Greeks, in water wheels for grinding wheat
into flour. The Roman’s used Hydro-powered
machines such as watermills to cut stone and
timber. Until the steam engine was developed,
watermills, textile machines, sawmills and other
machines were powered by water. Then small
scale factories developed. Hydro power went out
of popularity with the innovation of the steam
engine.
8.1.4 Influence of steam engine
• Steam power is more efficient, compared to
water power and is more moveable. Only 30% of
the energy produced is converted.
• Textile manufacturing centres such as
Manchester were heavily influenced by the
impact of the steam engine.
• In England, it began in the eighteenth century by
Thomas Savery and Thomas Newcomen.
Eventually, it proved more flexible and
economically efficient. Together with coal
mining, the iron industry, and steam power a
new era was created using steam technology..
Source: Franklin Institute
Electricity leading to a technological revolution and an
increased volume of production.
• Michael Faraday’s discovered electromagnetic induction and
together with the invention of the dynamo this allowed the energy
from coal or fast-flowing water to be converted into electricity. This
resulted in the electricity industry being established and enabled a
new generation of electrical machines and electrical products. This
enabled factory production and the development of assembly-line
arrangements at a cheaper price.
• Faraday proved that a changing magnetic field could create an
electric field. Further, due to Galilean relativity, this means a
changing electric field which causes a magnetic field. Consequently
in terms of products, this has been employed in dynamos and
electric motors. In a dynamo, the coil is turned inside a magnetic
field, which generates an electric current. (This is due to the
changing magnetic field which creates an electric field. This moves
the electrons which makes current. This, can then be used for
different electrical appliances.
8.1.6 Uses for the electric motor in industrial
production.
• Electrical motors use electrical energy to
produce mechanical energy. They are
most used in refrigerators, fans, vacuums,
pool pumps, etc. Also in electronic devices
such as DVD players, computers, etc.
have electric motors.
• Today electric motors are being used for
more sophisticated things such as hybrid
cars.
8.1.7 Explain how the production and distribution of electricity led
to large-scale energy usage, security of supply and the
geographical spread of production away from the source of
energy supplies.
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• Developments in electric power transmission has allowed stand
alone energy sources such as wind turbines, hydroelectric power
plants, nuclear power plants, etc to be connected to consumers in
population centers. Often these are powered by low-grade fuel
resources such as coal and natural gas. It was also practicable for
alternating current power lines transporting electricity at very low
costs across great distances.
• There are four processes involved 1) electricity generation such as
that from a power station, 2) electric power transmission, 3)
electricity distribution and 4) electricity retailing. In fact, it is common
for electric power companies to own the whole infrastructure from
generating stations to transmission and distribution infrastructure.
• The power transmission network is known as a "grid“
• Deregulation of some electricity companies has meant a renewed
interest in reliable economic design of transmission networks
How batteries have changed the nature of energy usage and new
type of products
Storage of electricity in sophisticated, powerful
batteries has meant a revolution in consumer
electronics.e.g. lithium ion for hybrid electric
vehicle and plug.
Other Examples: portable radios, mobile phones
and other portable electrical and electronic
products.
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Bibliography
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History of Energy, Franklin Institute http://www.fi.edu/learn/casefiles/energy.html
Electrical Power http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_power_transmission
IBO Design Technology, DP Diploma Guide (2009) p. 71,72
Industrial Revolution.Wikipedia.com.23 April 2008. April 30, 2008.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution
Cottage industryInvestorWords.com. WebFinance, Inc. April 30, 2008
http://www.investorwords.com/1163/cottage+industry.html
“Industry and Economy”. EHS.org.May 4, 2008.
http://www.ehs.org.uk/industrialrevolution/PH_index.htm#Intro
(all accessed 13/12/09)