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ENERGY!
What is Energy?
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•
•
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“Work”
“Motion”
“Power”
“the key to the advance of civilization”
• Energy is motion and activity from things as small
as breathing and eating (food energy) to things as
large as hydro and nuclear power that provide
electricity to New York City, Tokyo, and Seattle.
Why is it important?
• Humans create and use energy to:
– Produce materials
– Get warm
– Cool off
– SURVIVE
• Without energy, you would not be reading this
power point presentation, watching TV,
listening to music, or even moving your fingers
to take notes (YES! Even that takes energy).
The History of Energy
• Every living and
sometimes non-living
things take and create
energy.
• We will be discussing
man-made energy.
• For mankind:
– Elbow grease!
– Energy has
been used
forever.
History: Wood
• Wood (sticks, logs, branches and leaves, or
tree products) was used to create fire that
would heat:
– Food
– Bodies
– Homes (caves…)
History: Man Power
• Human muscles were outdone millions of years
ago by their competitor, simple machines:
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–
–
–
The wheel
Levers
Pulleys
Weapons:
• Bow and Arrow
• Dull knives
– Agricultural tools
– Animal labor/energy
History: Hydro Power
• What is “Hydro” power?
– Energy that is created by the
movement of water.
• In ancient Rome, aqueducts were
created to make a central sewage
and water system for the nationstate.
• 2 BC: The vertical water wheel was
created, allowing water to gain
some momentum and help move
mills.
History: Hydro Power
• By the 15th century, water power was the primary
source of maintaining society in France.
• In the 1770’s, hydro-powered cotton mills were
created and subsequently used. This began the
Industrial Revolution.
• Today, humans utilize water through dams to
create electricity. The flow of the water creates
energy which is, thus, turned into electricity.
History: Hydro Power
•Dams are another
important aspect of hydro
power. These were created
by humans in the late
Medieval times (the 10th 14th centuries).
•Water is intentionally
held up and released at
a level appropriate for
the energy needed.
•Beavers create dams
naturally as a part of
their habitat…
Hydroelectric Power
Hydroelectric Power
COAL
• Coal is used as a heating element to create
energy. Burning coal has been used to:
– Heat homes and stoves (as well as barbecues)
– Create steam to power machinery such as:
• Trains
• Mills
• Sewing machines in large factories
History: COAL
• Steam has been known to
create movement and
high energy since the 1st
century.
• In the 17th century it was
utilized to make
machinery work.
• The people who invented
and modified it:
– Thomas Savery
– Thomas Newcomen
– James Watt (the most
famous).
History: COAL
• Coal seemed to be better than water
– It was portable
– Created just as much energy
– Could be controlled
• The downside?
– Coal is a resource that needed to be mined
– Coal wasn’t available everywhere
• CA would pay a great deal for coal from all over the world, even
Australia.
• Coal’s Creations:
– The steam Engine
• TRANSPORTATION!
• TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD!
• FACTORIES/MASS PRODUCTION!
Speaking of California…
• California relied on imported coal, which was
expensive. Until…
• Petroleum was discovered off their coast in
the early 20th century. Then it was their
primary source of fuel.
• Petroleum and Coal are kinds of FOSSIL FUELS.
History: FOSSIL FUELS
• Fossil Fuels are a type of energy used primarily
in cars and vehicles.
• Fossil fuels are created by decomposed
material that is very, very old.
• I like to think of petroleum or fossil fuels as
“Dinosaur Juice”.
History: FOSSIL FUELS
• Fossil Fuels have existed for millions (possibly
up to 650 MILLION years).
• They have been utilized since coal was
utilized.
• Fossil Fuels are:
– Coal
– Petroleum
– Natural Gas
History: FOSSIL FUELS
• Because they are so abundant in certain
places, they can tend to be fairly cheap.
• The United states imports a majority of its
fossil fuels (Petroleum) from the Middle East.
– This creates a political aspect to reliance on
natural resources.
• Coal was popular until we realized how filthy it
made our cities and caused issues with health.
History: FOSSIL FUELS
• Petroleum is still used and is a primary source
of energy as a whole for the nation. But
alternatives have become popular since the
1960’s.
Alternatives
Nuclear Energy
• Nuclear energy was discovered
and implemented in the early
20th century.
• Energy is created from atoms
splitting in a controlled
environment.
• Nuclear power plants!
• Atomic Energy Commission
utilized atomic energy for
peaceful purposes.
SOLAR ENERGY
• Also ancient, has become
popular.
• Using the sun’s heat to
create energy or electricity.
• Solar panels use silicone
slabs that heat and store
energy.
• Solar energy becomes
popular when gas prices are
high.
Nuclear Energy
Solar Energy
Alternatives
Wind Energy
• Wind energy is a form of
solar energy.
• Temperature changes create
wind
• Wind creates movement
• Movement creates energy.
Biomass
• Biomass is plant matter
waste product burned to
create energy.
– Wood scraps (no chopping
down trees!)
– Waste/compost
– Hydrogen
– Alcohols
• Sugarcane
• Ethanol
Wind Energy
Biomass
ENERGY!
• All of these forms of energy are important and
useful.
– Energy stems from as far back as the earth has
been in existence.
– Soon, we will be comparing and contrasting these
forms of energy.
• What are the benefits?
• What are the drawbacks?
• Do we know enough about them to know what the
benefits and drawbacks are?
• Much thanks to the U.S. Department of
Energy and the Franklin Institute for their
resources and fruitful information.