EP@BHS-TOPIC 2: Energy, UNIT2.1: Energy Resources
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TOPIC 2: Energy
Preface
Technological systems would not be possible without energy, work, and power. Although it is common to
hear these terms used interchangeably in conversation, each is different and crucial to creating, using, or
maintaining a technological system.
Most power used today is stored or made available when needed. In the past power that was created was
often used immediately. A windmill might have been used to pump water or irrigate a field. A water
wheel’s rotary motion might have been used to ground grains into flour. These systems did not consist of
many steps or processes between the energy source and its end use. Today’s society demands that
energy be stored and transported reliably and predictably to the end user. When energy and power
changes form, some of it is lost along the way to elements like friction and heat. Engineers are being
challenged to find creative ways to generate energy and to make systems more efficient.
In this lesson students will learn that as energy and power are converted, losses in the system will occur.
Students will understand that such losses affect the overall efficiency of the system.
Concepts
1. Energy source classifications include nonrenewable, renewable, and
inexhaustible.
2. Energy source processes include harnessing, storing, transporting, and
converting.
3. Energy often needs to be converted from one form to another to meet the needs
of a given system.
4. An understanding of work, energy, and power is required to determine system
efficiency.
5. An understanding of the basics of electricity requires the understanding of the
three fundamental concepts of voltage, current, and resistance.
6. The atomic structure of a material determines whether it is a conductor, an
insulator, or a semiconductor.
Performance Objectives
It is expected that students will:
 Identify and categorize energy sources as nonrenewable, renewable, or inexhaustible.
 Create and deliver a presentation to explain a specific energy source.
 Define the possible types of power conversion.
 Calculate work and power.
 Demonstrate the correct use of a digital multimeter.
 Calculate power in a system that converts energy from electrical to mechanical.
 Determine efficiency of a system that converts an electrical input to a mechanical output.
 Calculate circuit resistance, current, and voltage using Ohm’s law.
 Understand the advantages and disadvantages of parallel and series circuit design in an
application.
Assessment
Name:
Date Completed:
Initials:
Preliminary
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Final
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Grader
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EP@BHS-TOPIC 2: Energy, UNIT2.1: Energy Resources
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Explanation
 Students will explain the advantages and disadvantages of nonrenewable, renewable, and
inexhaustible energy sources.

Students will explain the relationship between resistance, current, and voltage within an
electrical circuit.
 Students will explain the relationship between work, energy, and power.
Interpretation
 Students will make work-guide entries reflecting on their learning experiences.

Students will explain the role of energy distribution related to their local community and
the global community.

Students will research various energy sources to gain an overall perspective of current
energy demands and issues.
Application
 Students will calculate electrical circuit resistance, current, and voltage.

Students will calculate mechanical efficiency within an electrical mechanical system.

Students will demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of series and parallel
circuits.
Perspective
 Students will identify and discuss short and long-term global and human impacts
regarding energy.
Self-knowledge
 Students will be required to reflect on their work in journals by recording their thoughts
and ideas.
Essential Questions
1. What sources of energy are available for use? What are the benefits and
drawbacks regarding efficiency, usefulness, and the environment?
2. What emerging technologies are or may be on the horizon that will provide
energy more efficiently?
3. What are the different energy sources that are used to deliver energy to your
community?
4. Describe examples in your community of individuals or businesses harnessing
their own energy.
5. Describe where and how the electricity that reaches your home is produced.
1. Describe and identify inefficient use of energy and power at home, school, or
work.
2. What is the relationship between resistance, current, and voltage within an
electrical system?
3. Explain the distinguishing characteristics between series and parallel circuits.
4. Describe how to calculate the efficiency of an electrical mechanical system.
Name:
Date Completed:
Initials:
Preliminary
Grade:
Final
Grade:
Grader
Initials:
EP@BHS-TOPIC 2: Energy, UNIT2.1: Energy Resources
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UNIT 2.1 Energy Resources
Purpose
According to the United States Department of Energy, Americans spend
500 billion dollars each year on energy. The world is facing the challenge
of significantly increasing energy needs. Many unique energy sources are
available. To meet future energy needs, engineers need to design
technology to contribute new ways to harness energy, increase efficiency,
and better transport and store energy.
Procedure
During this activity, you and your team will:
 Take notes on the power point presentation entitled EnergySources.ppt
 Conduct the following for an energy resource of your choosing
o Obtain permission from teacher to explore the desired energy resource
o Create a two slide presentation about your energy resource that answers the
following questions in a unique, informative, and creative manner:
 Is the energy resource classified as nonrenewable, renewable or
inexhaustible?
 How is the energy resource made usable?
 What emerging technologies will make this energy resource safer, more
usable, more efficient, cleaner, etc.?
Cite image sources by including a caption of the entire URL
List all sources on a references slide, using the currently accepted format at BHS
o Present your presentation to the class (target time is 3-4 minutes)
o Create a physical demonstration of 1 Joule of your energy resource. Include
calculations that support how you know that the demonstration accurately represents
1 Joule.
 Compare various forms of home heating fuel with respect to their relative costs for
comparable amounts of useful thermal energy.
 Notes on power point presentation entitled EnergySources.ppt (add pages if necessary):
Name:
Date Completed:
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Final
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Grader
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EP@BHS-TOPIC 2: Energy, UNIT2.1: Energy Resources
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EP@BHS-TOPIC 2: Energy, UNIT2.1: Energy Resources
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 Notes for two slide Energy Resource presentation (add pages if necessary)

Team: __________________________________________________________________

Energy Resource Selected:_____________________________ Approved by Teacher:_____

Notes for presentation:
Name:
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EP@BHS-TOPIC 2: Energy, UNIT2.1: Energy Resources
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EP@BHS-TOPIC 2: Energy, UNIT2.1: Energy Resources
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Presentation Checklist:
You are ready to present when all of the items in this checklist are answered in the affirmative:
_____ Have you planned to enhance statements on your slides by what you say, rather than to read
from the slides?
_____ Have you closely examined every sentence or phrase to be sure that it can’t be made into a
word or phrase that you can elaborate on verbally?
_____ Did you practice your presentation?
_____ Are you prepared to maintain eye contact while you are presenting?
_____ Did you make sure that your chosen fonts are easy to read?
_____ Is all of your text large, bold, and easy to read?
_____ Are your presentation slides easy to read from the back of the room?
_____ Have you used bullets or another method to distinguish between separate points?
_____ Does your presentation stand out and seem creative?
_____ Do you have pictures, graphics, or animations that enhance your presentation?
_____ Did you include reference notes on each slide to indicate sources of information & images?
_____ Are you happy with your presentation?
_____ Have you discussed any questions that you may have with the instructor?
Presentation Rubric:
Topic
Content
Slide and
Time
Lengths
Organization
Delivery
Preparation
References
Name:
Meets Expectations
Below Expectations
Thoroughly and clearly
states the main points. Text
highlights the main points
and is easy to read.
Exceeds Expectations
Adequately states the main
points. Text highlights most
main points, but is a little
too wordy and is easy to
read.
States few main points and
details. Text highlights
some main points, but is
too wordy and is difficult to
read.
Contains two slides. The
presentation is between
three and four minutes.
Contains two slides. The
presentation is between
two and three minutes or
four to five minutes.
Is clearly organized into a
logical sequence.
Provides adequate
evidence and a logical
sequence of information.
Adequately delivers the
information while staying
on the topic and
considering the audience.
Speaks clearly and
confidently. Preparation
and practice is not evident.
Contains greater or less
than 2 slides. The
presentation is either less
than two minutes or more
than four minutes.
Has little logical
organization.
Effectively and creatively
delivers the information while
staying on the topic and
considering the audience.
Uses voice variation;
interesting and vivid to hear.
Preparation and practice is
evident.
Demonstrates detailed
preparation and practice for
delivery. Interesting and
vivid.
Provides the correct domain
name, author, or creator
under each image The
reference page includes
appropriate citations.
Date Completed:
Initials:
Demonstrates little or no
attempt to stay on the
topic. Does not consider
the audience. Difficult to
understand. Preparation
and practice is not evident.
Demonstrates satisfactory
preparation as well as
practice for delivery.
Demonstrates a lack of
preparation and practice
for delivery.
Provides some incorrect
domain names, authors, or
creators under images.
The reference page
includes mostly appropriate
citations.
Is missing some domain
names, authors, or
creators under images.
The reference page
includes many citation
errors.
Preliminary
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Final
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EP@BHS-TOPIC 2: Energy, UNIT2.1: Energy Resources
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Conclusion
1. Describe one thing that surprised you about the energy resource that you researched.
2. Describe one thing that surprised you about an energy resource that another team presented.
3. Describe and defend what you believe to be an important technological need regarding energy.
4. Explain why some people (including your teacher) take issue with the use of the term
“inexhaustible” to describe energy resources.
Name:
Date Completed:
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EP@BHS-TOPIC 2: Energy, UNIT2.1: Energy Resources
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 Show Me a Joule!
Create a physical demonstration of 1 Joule of your energy resource. Include calculations that
support how you know that the demonstration accurately represents 1 Joule. Use the workspace
below and additional sheets as necessary to document your progress toward the creation of a
final product. Also include a photo and description of how your demonstration accurately
represents 1 Joule.
Name:
Date Completed:
Initials:
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Final
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Grader
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EP@BHS-TOPIC 2: Energy, UNIT2.1: Energy Resources
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EP@BHS-TOPIC 2: Energy, UNIT2.1: Energy Resources
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 Energy Resource Exploration: Comparing Various Home Heating Fuels
Fuels are measured in physical units, such as gallons of oil or propane, cubic feet of natural gas,
or kilowatt hours of electricity. They are also measured by heat content. In the United States, the
most commonly used value for expressing the energy value or heat content of a fuel is the British
thermal unit (Btu). One Btu is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one
pound of water 1°F, when water is at about 39°F. One "therm" is 100,000 Btu. [The conversion
factor between British Thermal Units and Kilowatt hours is 3413 Btu = 1 kilowatt-hour]
The table below provides a list of typical heating fuels, their energy content in the units that they
are typically sold, the estimated efficiency for typical appliances that convert the energy to
thermal energy in our homes, and a current estimate of their cost per unit in New Hampshire.
Energy Content
per Unit
Fuel Type
Estimated
efficiency
for typical
use (%)
Estimated Cost
per Unit
Fuel Oil
(No. 2)
1.40 x 10 Btu/gallon
83.0%
$1.98/gallon
Electricity
3,413 Btu/kWh
98.0%
$0.163/kWh
Natural
Gas
1.00 x 10 Btu/therm
80.0%
$0.840/therm
Propane
91,300 Btu/gallon
79.0%
$2.68/gallon
Wood (air
dried)
2.00 x 10 Btu/cord
7
77.0%
$305/cord
Pellets
1.65 x 10 Btu/ton
83.0%
$261/ton
5
5
7
Source:
o
Name:
Useful Energy
Output Per Unit
Cost
(Btu/Dollar)
Ratio indicating
desirability relative
to Fuel Oil (No. 2)
https://www.nh.gov/oep/energy/energy-nh/fuel-prices/
Complete the last two columns of the table for Fuel Oil (No. 2) and verify your
calculations with your teacher:
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EP@BHS-TOPIC 2: Energy, UNIT2.1: Energy Resources
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o
Perform the associated calculations for at least two of the remaining fuels:
o
Review similar calculations made by your classmates and complete the table:
o
Which resource has highest desirability ratio relative to Fuel Oil (No. 2)?
o
Identify another consideration that would need to be made by a homeowner who was
considering a switch to a new type of fuel to heat their home?
Date Completed:
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