Energy & Forces - Conversion & transfer of energy - Electric circuits - G23 - EF-D2.1

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Energy & Forces - Conversion & transfer of energy - Electric circuits - G20

Teacher's Guide

EF-D2.1

Torness Nuclear Power Station 1. In Scotland most of our electricity is generated by our two nuclear power stations at Hunterston and Torness.

The next most important form of electrical generation in Scotland comes from hydroelectric stations. Although we do have a few small power stations which use gas, oil or coal these are mostly held in reserve. We now have several large wind farms which are not yet generating significant amounts of electricity.

Wind farm in North Wales

Cruachan hydroelectric scheme

The flowchart below shows the process used in a conventional fossil fuel power station with the energy changes noted. Worksheet D17 (G) can be filled in by the children to give a completed flowchart.

Coal, oil or gas burned in a large boiler. chemical to heat		Tubes run through the boiler carrying water which is turned to steam by the heat and becomes pressurised.

The drive shaft of the turbine is used to turn the drive shaft of an electrical generator thus producing electricity. mechanical to electrical		The steam is fed at high pressure into a turbine - like an immense fan - and turns turns it at a very high speed. heat to mechanical

In a nuclear power station the following occurs :-
Nuclear fission produces heat nuclear to heat		Tubes running through the core carry gas or water carry the heat out from the core where it heats water in tubes to make steam.

The drive shaft of the turbine is used to turn the drive shaft of an electrical generator thus producing electricity. mechanical to electrical		The steam is fed at high pressure into a turbine - like an immense fan - and turns turns it at a very high speed. heat to mechanical
2. You can contact Scottish Hydro on 0800 300 2141 or go to their website. There is a visitor centre at the Pass of Brander on Loch Awe. If you are unable to visit a hydroelectric power station you could make up a small demonstration for the class as shown overleaf 1. Make a small turbine - like a waterwheel - by taking 5 pieces of thin card 10 cm by 5 cm. Fold each in half down the long side :-
The energy diagram for hydroelectric power is like this :-
Water is passed over the fins of a turbine as the water falls down a from a dam. kinetic to mechanical		The drive shaft of the turbine is used to turn the drive shaft of an electrical generator thus producing electricity. mechanical to electrical
Make your own wind speed generator
4. Whenever energy is transferred from one type to another some is lost to the system as unwanted heat. Thus the more energy changes you have, the more energy is wasted.

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