Forces
True or False: Energy cannot transform from one form to another.
False
What is a benefit of using renewable energy in Alberta? What is a con/drawback of using renewable energy SPECIFICALLY in Alberta?
Renewable sources like wind and solar power are cleaner and sustainable, but the transition can affect jobs in the fossil fuel industry resulting in job shortages.
Name all 5 internal forces
What forms of energy can electricity be transformed into?
Sound and heat energy.
True or false: Wind and solar energy cause major pollution
False
What type of energy is present when the sun dries your clothes?
Unprocessed energy
What sources of energy does Alberta use the most?
They use primarily fossil fuels, like coal, natural gas, and oil.
What type of force was demonstrated in our Popsicle stick catapult experiment?
Spring Force
What percentage of Canada's electricity is generated by Nuclear Power Plants?
15%
How does geothermal energy work?
There is hot water deep underground. Geothermal energy comes from this hot water. The hot water creates steam that spins a turbine to create electricity. The steam is returned as cool water back to the ground.
How is wind energy used directly without processing it into electricity?
It is used to turn a windmill and that movement can be used to do work, like to grind up grain.
What is a tailings pond? How did they solve this problem?
These tailings were a mix of sand, clay, water, and leftover bitumen (a thick, sticky form of crude oil).
In reclaiming the tailings pond, the waste was dried and reshaped to resemble Alberta's natural landscape. The dried tailings were then covered with stored topsoil, followed by planting native flora to foster a thriving wetland environment. The area is continuously monitored for plant growth and water health.
Define Plasticity and Elasticity
When we change an object, it will either stay in the new form or return back to its original form.
If the object shows elasticity, it will return back but if it shows plasticity, then it will stay in its current form.
What is a power plant? What types of power are used?
A power plant converts different types of energy into electricity. Wind, solar, fossil fuels, hydro, and many more types of energy are used.
How is energy used before and after processing? Give examples of both.
Energy Before Processing: Some forms of energy can be used directly. For example, hydro energy is used by a watermill to spin water or generate electricity without needing to be processed.
Energy After Processing: Some types of energy need processing to be useful. For instance, oil needs to be refined into gasoline before we can use it to power cars.
What is the effect on the environment when using hydroelectric dams to generate electricity ?
The dams block the flow of water and then release some water from time to time. This changing environment makes it hard for wildlife living in the water to survive.
The structure itself is massive. It uses a lot of land
Many of the dams are built in the northern parts of Canada, where the Indigenous have rights to the land
What is Newton's third law? Explain action vs reaction force.
Action Force vs Reaction Force: An action force is the initial push or pull one object exerts on another. For example, if you push a door, your push is the action force. The reaction force is the equal and opposite force the door exerts back onto you. According to Newton's third law, every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
What is a turbine? How can we generate electricity with a turbine?
A turbine is a machine that transforms rotational energy from a fluid that is picked up by a rotor system into usable work or energy. The turbine converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy by forcing electrons through an electrical circuit.
What is the difference between processed and unprocessed energy?
Processed energy needs to be changed, like when solar energy from the sun is changed into electrical energy. Unprocessed energy can be used without any changes, like when a candle gives us light energy.
What are the 4 strategies for responsible management of energy resources?
1. Minimal disruption to nature
2. Restoration of extraction areas
3. Waste management practices
4. Respect for Land and Resource Rights