MC	Physics	Standard: 04
Objective: 03. Describe common energy transformations and the effect on availability of energy.
ILO:

Match and classify the following energy transformations with the most relevant energy converter.

___1. Electrical energy to thermal energy a. Motor

___2. Thermal energy to fluid energy b. Generator

___3. Solar energy to thermal energy c. Windmill

___4. Fluid energy to mechanical energy d. Steam Generator

___5. Electrical energy to mechanical energy e. Solar Collector

___6. Mechanical energy to fluid energy f. Heating Device

___7. Mechanical energy to electrical energy. g. Pump Fan

h. Car Engine

i. Bicycle

Correct Answers:

1. f

2. d

3. e

4. c

5. a

6. g

7. b

MC	Physics	Standard: 04
Objective: 03. Describe common energy transformations and the effect on availability of energy.
ILO:

A building contractor was given several options as to the type of building materials he could use in a house he was constructing. He was told that he could use either pine or oak for trim, and concrete, cinder block or building block for walls. The buyers instructed the contractor to build the house as thermally efficient as feasible.

Building block =3-6

Cinder block=2-3

Concrete=6-9

Glass=5-6

Oak=1.02

Pine=0.78

Using the above chart of thermal conductivity, what materials would he use?

a. Building block and oak

b. Building block and pine

c. Cinder block and oak

d. Cinder block and pine

e. Concrete and oak

Correct Answer: d

E	Physics	Standard: 04
Objective: 03. Describe common energy transformations and the effect on availability of energy.
ILO:

Much of the electricity in Utah comes from hydroelectric power plants, which are components of many dams. Trace electrical energy from this source to an electrical appliance in your house.

Possible Answer:

Hydroelectric power is produced from water moving through a dam. Water flowing through the dam converts potential mechanical energy to kinetic mechanical energy. This kinetic energy turns a turbine in the dam, which is connected to the shaft of a generator. The generator takes the mechanical energy and converts it to electrical energy. It is then sent through power lines and a transformer (which converts electricity into a usable voltage) to your house. There it is converted into useful energy by your home appliances.

Scoring Guide:

Conversion of potential to kinetic energy 30%

Kinetic energy turns turbine in generator 10%

Generator changes mechanical energy to electrical energy 30%

Electrical energy travels through power lines 10%

Correct spelling, punctuation and language use 20%

E	Physics	Standard: 04
Objective: 03. Describe common energy transformations and the effect on availability of energy.
ILO:

Electricity plays a vital role in our society. Do some research and write a 2 page report about how electricity is generated in a (coal or nuclear) power plant. How is the electricity produced transmitted to our homes?

Scoring Guide:

Students should include the following:

• At least two full pages.

• Correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• Complete, accurate description of the process of power generation should include these basic steps:
• Heat is produced by either burning coal, or a controlled fission reaction
• This heat boils water, producing steam.
• High pressure steam spins a turbine.
• Spinning turbine creates changing magnetic field through coils of wire, which induces an electric current.
• Transformers step the voltage up to transmit electricity over distances. Transformers near homes step voltage back down for use in homes.

E	Physics	Standard: 04
Objective: 03. Describe common energy transformations and the effect on availability of energy.
ILO:

Compare and contrast the use of fission and fusion as a possible energy source in a power plant to provide electricity to a local city and how it would affect the quality of life in the city.

Scoring Guide:

For the essay, five points are possible. One point for every item listed below.

1. Nuclear fission creates unstable, heavy nuclei that break apart and release energy. By contrast nuclear fusion joins two light nuclei to form a heavier nucleus. (The student will earn 1 point for addressing the energy output of both)

2. The fuel used in a fusion reaction is much more plentiful. (The student will earn 1 point for addressing fuel sources)

3. The radioactive waste from a fusion reaction is much less than a fission reaction. (The student will earn 1 point for addressing the affects of radioactive waste)

4. The technology to build a fusion reactor capable of supplying a communityÍs energy is not currently available. (The student will earn 1 point for addressing the ability to build a fusion reactor)

5. Writing skills. (The student will receive 1 point for proper sentence structure, grammar, appropriate science terminology)

P	Physics	Standard: 04
Objective: 03. Describe common energy transformations and the effect on availability of energy.
ILO:

An airplane drops 400 m to escape some freezing rain. If it maintained the same speed but lost 200,000,000 J of energy:

1. How much PE did it lose?

2. How much KE did it lose?

3. What is the planeÍs mass?

4. Since the total energy of the system doesnÍt seem to be conserved, explain where the 200,000,000 J went.

Correct Answers:

1. 200,000,000 J

2. 0 J

3. 51,000 kg

4. Air friction

Scoring Guide:

1 point for each correct answer

Total: 4 points

P	Physics	Standard: 04
Objective: 03. Describe common energy transformations and the effect on availability of energy.
ILO:

Thermal Conductivity of Different Materials

Purpose:

Differentiate between the thermal conductivity of three different materials.

Procedure:

Some cups will keep hot liquids hot and others do not. Design an experiment that will determine which of three different cup materials will insulate and retain heat.

Materials You May Use:

1 clear plastic cup

1 colored plastic cup

1 ceramic cup

1 hot plate

3 thermometers

1 thermocouple

1 multimeter

1 stop watch

1 ruler

1 graduated cylinder

water

Scoring Guide:

For the performance, five points are possible. One point for every item listed below.

1. Develop a hypothesis for your experiment.

2. List materials

3. Write a procedure for conducting your experiment.

4. Record data on a chart or graph.

5. Make conclusions that relate to your hypothesis.

6. Determine the material most suited to be used as insulator for the container.

Completion of Performance:

Clean the lab space and return all unused materials.