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Renewable Energy WebQuest

Use the following link to help you complete the questions on energy.
o http://www.eia.gov/kids/energyfacts/index.html

1) How do scientists define energy? Energy is the ability to do work.


2) Explain the law of conservation of energy. Give examples of energy transformations. Energy cannot be
destroyed but it can change state or form. Like when extra energy is given off as heat.
3) What is energy efficiency? Using energy in a way to get a higher output. Basically, when the
function is using the energy to do more things.
4) What does it mean for energy to be nonrenewable? Renewable? Nonrenewable energy is an energy
source that cannot be easily replenished while renewable energy is an energy source that can be
easily replenished.
5) According to the U.S. Energy Consumption by Energy Source, 2012, what percentage of energy that
we use is renewable? What percent is nonrenewable? 10% of the energy is renewable so the other
90% is nonrenewable.

Renewable Energy Sources

6) What are the 6 forms of renewable energy resources? Biomass, hydropower, geothermal, wind, solar

Solar

7) What is solar energy? Energy harnessed from the sun


8) Solar energy is converted into what energy? Electrical or thermal
9) Give two examples of how solar energy is used. To power homes or to heat water.
10) What do solar cells do? Change sunlight directly into electricity
11) What do solar power plants do? Gather large amounts of solar energy to power large areas
12) What are the 2 main disadvantages to solar energy? It is dependent on sunlight which is a
uncontrollable variable and a large area is required to harness enough energy to be useful
13) Explain how solar energy is beneficial for the environment. It is clean and leaves behind no waste or
pollution.
Wind.
14) What is wind and how is it caused? Wind is moving air that is caused by the uneven heating of the
Earths surface

15) What did American colonists use windmills for? To grind grain, pump water, and to cut wood at
sawmills
16) What do wind machines produce? Energy from wind.
17) Describe a wind power plant. A lot of windmills that spin to create electricity.
18) Describe the negative effects of wind machines. Many people see them as an eyesore. They also use
rare Earth metals.

Geothermal
19) What does the word geothermal mean? Geo (Earth) and thermal (Heat)
20) What is geothermal energy? Heat energy from within the Earth
21) Geothermal energy is generated in the Earth
22) Where is geothermal energy found? The most active resources are usually found on tectonic plate
boundaries
23) Name 2 ways people have used direct geothermal energy? Heating water and regulating temperatures

Describe how has Iceland used geothermal energy? Iceland uses it for District Heating Systems.
Heated water is pumped through buildings and other areas to heat it all up.
Biomass

24) What does Biomass mean and what does it contain? Biomass is organic matter that is burned and
used as a renewable resource.
25) Name 5 things that are biomass materials. Wood, crops, animal manure, human sewage, plant
material
26) What is the most common biomass material? Wood
27) 84% of wood energy is used where? Industry
28) How can biomass energy be negative to the environment? Things burned can release chemicals and
such into the atmosphere. Also, it leaves behind waste that has to be disposed of.
Hydroelectric.
29) Hydroelectric power generates what type of energy? Electrical
30) What 3 states hold over one-half of the total U.S. hydroelectric capacity for electricity is Washington,
Oregon, and California.
31) Most dams in the United States were not built to provide electricity, but for irrigation and flood
control.

Ocean
32) Tides are the rising and falling of the ocean shore. What are tides caused by? The moon and the sun
33) Compare wind turbines and wave turbines. Wind turbines use wind to rotate rotors and generate
power while wave turbines you the power of the waves to move turbines and generate power.
34) Not only could the ocean provide us with tidal energy, but wave energy.
35) What is Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion? A system that uses a temperature difference in water to
power a turbine.
36) Since the ocean expands almost two-thirds of the Earth, it makes sense to use that open ocean to provide
us with energy. What are the two forms of energy have scientists considered placing over the open
ocean? Wind and solar.

Use of Energy.

37) What are the 4 areas in which energy is used? Homes, industry, commercial buildings, and
transportation

Residential- homes.

38) List the 5 ways in which energy is used in our homes. Space heating, refrigeration, air conditioning,
water heating, and electricity
39) What is the most used type of energy in the home? Space heating

Saving Energy
Energy Efficiency
40) How much energy does the United States use?
41) The average American consumes __________________________ more energy than the world average.
42) Identify 5 different ways in which we can conserve energy. ____________________________________
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