Energy Transfer
What particle in an atom is involved in energy transfer?
Electrons
What is the difference between transmission and distribution lines?
Transmission - higher voltage, carry power from power plant to substation
Distribution - lower voltage, carry power from substation to buildings
Ohm's Law explains the mathematical relationship between which 3 factors?
Voltage, Resistance, Current
What do we call a material that transfers electric energy well?
A conductor
What unit is used to measure resistance?
Ohms
Why do most power plants need to get something spinning in order to transfer energy into wires?
Kinetic energy (spinning) is needed to GET MAGNETS MOVING in order to change magnetic fields, through which energy transfers into electrical fields and then into wires.
What are rolling blackouts? Are they intentional or accidental?
Fill in the units:
R is measured in ______
I is measured in ________
V is measured in _______
R - Ohms
I - Amperes
V - Volts
What is a constraint?
A limitation or restriction
What do you call a push force on electrons that causes them to flow and become an electric current?
Voltage
What is a generator?
A device that converts kinetic energy into electrical energy
What is 1 problem in the grid and 1 solution that can combat that problem?
- Age -- updating the grid
- Climate change/violent weather -- undergrounding power lines
- Shutting down carbon-emitting power plants before building enough environmentally-friendly alternatives --- slow down the shut-down of "dirty" power plants until enough "clean" ones are built / build clean energy power plants faster
A circuit with a current of 500 amps has several lights that have a total resistance equal to 50 ohms. Find the voltage.
25,000 v
What do we call a material that does NOT transfer electrical energy well?
What is one thing we discussed Consumers Energy is doing that is causing harm to Michiganders?
1. Price hikes
2. Greenwashing
3. Blocking rooftop solar
4. Cutting power quickly
What happens when a magnetic field changes and how does this affect charged particles in a wire?
When a magnetic field changes, it changes the electric field of a wire and allows for energy transfer to (negatively charged) electrons in the wire
What is a short circuit and what is 1 example of what could cause it?
An electrical circuit of lower resistance than normal, usually due to unintended contact with the circuit wires, leading to the diversion of the current
A squirrel or tree or something else hitting a power line, causing the energy to transfer through that shorter thing, instead of flowing through the much longer wire
(Assuming current remains constant)
As voltage increases, does resistance increase or decrease?
It increases
What does it mean if a power source is dispatchable?
We are able to create more of it on demand when needed
What is one strength and weakness of getting power from natural gas?
What is one strength and weakness of getting power from wind and/or solar?
Natural gas strengths: Dispatchable (ready at any time). Power plants already exist
Natural gas weaknesses: Pollutes the planet. Natural gas is not renewable
Wind/Solar strengths: Clean energy. Renewable.
Wind/Solar Weaknesses: Depend on weather and time of day. It will be expensive to build up enough to provide power for everyone.
Draw a model of energy transfer within a natural gas power-plant, including what happens in the generator
See provided image
What happened in Texas and whose fault was it?
Massive power outages
1. Global warming / crazier weather
2. Greedy Power companies
3. Irresponsible government
4. Separation of the US power grid and Texas's isolation from it
A circuit draws 44 amps of current when the voltage is 1,364 volts. What is the resistance of this circuit?
31 ohms
In your own words, what is electromagnetic induction?
Voltage production in an electrical conductor due to a changing magnetic field
Definition must hit 3 points: some kind of electro-motive force (voltage), an electrical conductor (copper wires/coils), and changing magnetic field/moving magnets
How does electricity travel from a power plant into your phone?
Electrons bump into each other in the direction of the current and excite the electrons in your phone