ENERGY
Answer the following questions
a) What is energy?
b) Why is energy important nowadays?
c) In what ways are we are aware of energy?
d) What are some of the most important sources of energy?
e) Note down some objects and the type of energy that makes them work.
f) What is the most important aspect about energy in the XXI century? Why?
g) Write two sentences related to energy using the words "civilization" and "industry".
It is said that we are living an "energy revolution". What does this suggest to you? Try to
explain this concept and write down some of the ideas or words it implies.
Energy
Energy is one of the most fundamental parts of our universe. We use energy to do work.
Energy lights our cities. Energy powers our vehicles, trains, planes and rockets. Energy
warms our homes, cooks our food, plays our music, gives us pictures on television. Energy
powers machinery in factories.
Energy is defined as "the ability to do work". When we eat, our bodies transform the food into
energy to do work. When we run or walk, we "burn" food energy in our bodies. When we think
or read or write, we are also doing work. Cars, planes, boats and machinery also transform
energy to work.
Work means moving something, lifting something, warming something, lighting something, etc.
These are just a few of the various types of work, so obviously energy is an important part of
our daily lives. But where does it come from?
How many energy sources can you think of to answer the question above?
Geothermal Energy Nuclear Energy
Fossil Fuels Solar Energy
Hydro Power and Ocean Energy Wind Energy
Put the words in bold from the text above with their definitions:
Machines in general or machines that are used in a factory _____
_____ are any combustible organic material such as oil, coal or natural gas, derived from the
remains of former life.
_____ is derived from the sun in the form of solar radiation
A space vehicle shaped like a long tube _____
The device or fuel that _____ a machine provides the energy that makes the machine work
What concepts or ideas you did not know before reading the text. Which is the most important
word in the text? Why? Energy is defined as "the ability to do work." Can you suggest another
definition of the term "energy"?
The text you are going to read focuses on energy, but from the point of view of electricity. After
reading it, suggest a title and an introductory sentence.
Electricity flows through some things better than others. How well something conducts
electricity is measured by its resistance. Resistance in wire depends on how thick it is, how
long it is, and what it is made of. The lower the resistance of a wire, the better it conducts
electricity.
Copper is used in many wires because it has a lower resistance than many other metals. The
wires in your walls, inside the lamps, and elsewhere are mostly copper.
The electric force that 'pushes' electrons is measured in volts. American homes use 110 volts
of electric power for regular appliances. Larger appliances, like clothes dryer or stove, use 220
volts. Some countries use 220 volts for all of their appliances and electric devices.
Batteries contain stored chemical energy. When the chemicals react with each other, they
produce an electrical charge. This charge changes into electrical energy when the battery is
connected in a circuit.
Along the circuit you can have a light bulb and an on-off switch. The light bulb changes the
electrical energy into light and heat energy.
You can have a heating element. When the electricity flows, the resistance causes friction and
the friction causes heat. The higher the resistance, the hotter it can get. So, a coiled wire that
is high in resistance, like the wire in a hair dryer, can heat up.
You can also have a motor. A motor works using electromagnetism. It has a
coiled up wire that sits between the north and south poles of a magnet. When current flows
through the coil, another magnetic field is produced. The north pole of the fixed magnet
attracts the south pole of the coiled wire. The two north poles push away, or repulse, each
other. The motor is set up so that this attraction and repulsion spins the centre section with the
coiled wire.
One other type of electrical energy is static electricity. Unlike current electricity that moves,
static electricity stays in one place. Static electricity can give you a shock. If you walk across a
carpet, shuffling your feet and touch something metal, a spark can jump between you and the
metal object. Shuffling your feet picks up additional electrons that are spread over your body.
When you touch a metal door knob or something with a positive charge the electricity jumps
across the small gap from your fingers just before you touch the metal knob. If you walk across
a carpet and touch a computer case, you can damage a computer. So if you walk across a
room always touch something else before touching a computer.
Another type of static electricity can be seen during a thunder and lightning storm. Clouds
become charged as ice crystals and they rub up against each other. The clouds get so highly
charged that the electrons jump between the cloud and the ground, or to another cloud. This
causes a huge spark, called lightning.
Complete the following sentences.
Electricity flows through ______
The electric force is _____
An electric circuit connects _____
Static electricity_____
Electricity is_____
Electrons _____
Ask questions for the following answers, taking into account the previous text.
_______________ ?
You can damage a computer.
_______________ ?
Clouds can become highly charged.
_______________ ?
A coiled wire that is high in resistance can heat up.
_______________ ?
This electric force is measured in volts.
_______________ ?
Batteries contain stored chemical energy.
_______________ ?
During a thunder and lightning storm.
Write a short essay on energy. Include at least one paragraph on each of the following:
The different sources of energy you are aware of
The importance of energy in today's world
The most common sources of energy today
Future trends.
Imagine you have discovered a new source of energy. Describe the new source of energy, its
use, compare it with other sources of energy and try to convince, in a formal letter, an
important company of its advantages. Explain your new source of energy and its vital
importance for the rest of the world.
