T OPIC 4 – T HE ENERGY C ONNECTION Science 9 - Electricity

B RAINSTORM D IFFERENT D EVICES THAT CONVERT E LECTRICITY : Why do we want to take electricity and convert it? We convert it into something useful!!!!

W HAT IS ENERGY ? Energy: the ability to do work Energy appears in MANY forms! What are some of these forms?

H OW IS ENERGY BEING CONVERTED ?

E LECTRICITY AND H EAT Thermocouple: converts heat to electrical energy directly Is a loop of 2 wires made of different types of metal The wires are wrapped together at both ends and the ends are heated or cooled. The temperature difference between the two ends increases the current in the wire. Note: Individual thermocouples produce only a small amount of current! Used as sensors in furnaces, hot water heaters, and electric ovens.

Note: More than 1 thermocouple is called a “thermopile”. Thermo-electric generator : device that increases current by heating/cooling parts of the generator NO MOVING PARTS!!

T O DO : Topic 4 Fill in the Blanks