ENERGY… What it is and how to conserve it!

Energy Energy is the ability to do work. There is energy that is stored and that is called potential energy. There is also energy that is ‘working’ and that is called kinetic energy.

Think of kinetic or potential energy in this way… Energy of motion or movement is kinetic while energy that is saved would be potential. Energy comes in a variety of different forms such as…

SOUND ENERGY - Sound energy is the energy produced by sound vibrations as they travel through a solid, liquid or gas. Sound vibrations cause waves.

Mechanical Energy -Mechanical energy describes the energy in a mechanical system. This energy includes both kinetic energy, the energy of motion, and potential energy, the stored energy of position.

Electrical Energy - Electrical energy is the presence and flow of an electric charge through something such as a wire or circuit.

Radiant Energy -Energy that comes from electromagnetic waves is called radiant energy. Electromagnetic waves take many forms, from microwaves to x-rays to visible light.

Nuclear Energy - Nuclear energy is energy in the middle of an atom Nuclear Energy - Nuclear energy is energy in the middle of an atom. Atoms are tiny particles that make up every object in the universe. There is enormous energy in the bonds that hold atoms together.

Thermal Energy - Thermal energy is made and measured by heat of any kind. It is caused by the increased activity of molecules in something which causes the temperature to rise. There are many natural sources of thermal energy on Earth.

Chemical Energy - a form of potential energy and it is possessed by things such as food, fuels and batteries. As chemical reactions happen, this energy is released.

Try This…. Can you match the picture with the correct term describing the type of energy? Work with a partner. Nuclear Sound Mechanical Radiant Thermal Electrical Chemical

Energy Over the years, we have come to depend on energy for our survival. Energy lights our homes, it produces the items that we buy, it dries our clothes, it cooks our dinners, it plays our music and it powers our cars. Because we use so much of it, we have to think about where our energy comes from.

Non-Renewable Energy Sources Most of the energy that we use today come from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. We use so much of these sources of energy at such a fast pace that they can not be replaced or renewed. This is what makes them non- renewable.

Renewable Energy Sources Luckily, there are energy sources that wont run out. They are called renewable energy sources and they include water, wind and solar energy that comes from the sun.

Try This…. Each group will go into expert groups and become experts on a particular type of renewable or non-renewable energy source. You will then teach the class what you have learned. Be sure to read your information carefully and be sure that everyone that you are working with understands the concepts.

Reducing the Amount that we Use Even the energy that we use on a daily basis comes from the environment. As we use massive amounts of coal, oil and gas, we continue to use up our earth’s natural resources. For this reason it is important to Reduce the amount of resources that we use. How can we reduce the amount of energy and resources that we use around the school? Discuss this with your group and then put your ideas onto the Placemat. Be prepared to present your information.

Reducing the Amount that we Use One way to reduce around our school is to reduce the amount of garbage that we throw away, especially at lunch time. Lets challenge ourselves to reduce our garbage by bringing litter-less lunches! If everyone in the class can bring a litter-less lunch on Wednesdays, the class will receive 10 responsibility cubes to go towards your End-of-Year treat! What is a litter-less lunch?

Reducing AND Reusing Reducing the amount that we throw away is important! Why? Lets remind ourselves of the amount of time some items take to break down….. Reusing also helps minimizes the amount that gets thrown away. To reuse means to find new uses for items that no longer fit or are of interest, instead of throwing them away. You can make new things out of old things, or you could give away your old clothing to someone else that might be in need, or someone else that may be able to fit into it. Lets read ‘Those Shoes’ together by Maribeth Boelts.

Reducing AND Reusing Imagine if something existed to help us to better reduce or reuse energy and resources around our home….. Your task is to think about and design a device that will help to conserve the energy or resources (or both), that we are using so much of everyday. First, lets think about how we may be wasting. Then lets think about some criteria that will lead to success on this task….

Recycling After trying to reduce and reuse items, recycling would be the next step! Sort bottles, cans, paper and plastic appropriately and recycle them. Recycling converts these items into new items instead of filling a landfill. Making new items requires a lot of electricity. But recycling takes less energy and uses fewer resources. For example, recycled plastic milk jugs can be made into park benches and playground equipment! Recycled paper might be used to make the next book you read!

Recycling Look for these symbols on items! It lets you know if the item is able to be recycled. Now that you have learned the importance of conserving our earth’s energy and resources, What will you do to let others know?