Answer :
In the system described, energy transformations include solar energy to electrical, and then to either light and thermal energy for a bulb or mechanical energy for a fan.
A generator converts mechanical to electrical energy, while a biker uses chemical to mechanical energy.
Wind and solar are among the natural energy sources described.
Energy transformations are central to understanding how different systems operate. Below are explanations for the energy changes described in Parts A and B of your question:
- The solar panel receives sunlight, which is a form of solar energy.
- Once the energy is received by the solar panel, it is converted into electrical energy.
- An incandescent light bulb receives electrical energy which is converted into light energy and thermal energy (heat).
- Energy leaves the light bulb primarily as light and heat.
- Starting with the energy leaving the sun and ending with the light leaving the light bulb, the energy changes form three times: solar to electrical, electrical to light, and electrical to heat.
When the Incandescent Light Bulb is changed to a Fan:
- The fan creates mechanical energy.
- The movement of air created by the fan is known as wind, which can be used as a source of energy in wind turbines, for example.
For Part C's questions involving a generator and a bike:
- A generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
- To ride a bike, a person converts chemical energy (from food) into mechanical energy (to pedal).
- The four natural sources of energy represented might include sunlight, wind, water flow, and biomass.
Other Energy Transformations and Concepts:
- A firefly converts chemical energy into light energy without significant heat, a process called bioluminescence.
- The standard unit of energy is the joule, which replaced the calorie, with 1 calorie being equal to approximately 4.184 joules.
- The law stating that energy is neither created nor destroyed is the Law of Conservation of Energy.
- The value of 1,340 watts refers to the solar constant, which is the average amount of solar radiation received per square meter of the Earth's upper atmosphere.
Choose the second option for each part of the system (Sun/Cloud, Solar Panel, Incandescent Light Bulb)
1. What type of energy is received by the solar panel?
2. Once the energy is received by the solar panel, what type of energy is it converted into?
3. The light bulb receives energy which is converted into energy.
4. Energy leaves the light bulb as and energy.
5. Starting with the energy leaving the sun and ending with light leaving the light bulb, how many times does the energy change form?
Part B: Change the third part of the system from the Incandescent Light Bulb to the Fan (the fourth option)
6. What type of energy does the fan create (from the five options in the simulation)?
7. In nature, what do we call the movement of air? Can this be used as a source of energy?
Part C:
Change the first and second parts of the simulation to answer the following questions
8. A generator converts energy into energy.
9. In order to ride a bike, a person converts energy into energy.
10. Name the four natural sources of energy represented by the first part of the simulation.
(Hint: think of the bike rider as a natural resource and the wheel of the bike as a turbine
