Lesson 3: Powered Up About Electricity!

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Open your students up to the world of technology as they follow the process that turns coal into energy, from the massive equipment used to dig for coal, to the enormous power lines that carry electricity to homes and businesses.

OBJECTIVE
Technology—understand the nature and uses of different forms of technology; Physical Science—understand the structure and properties of matter

Time Required: One 40-minute class period

MATERIALS
Student Worksheet 3 Fired Up About Electricity! (PDF), pen/pencil

DIRECTIONS
1. Explain that different energy sources are turned into electricity in different ways. In the case of fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, the fuels are used in power plants. These fuels release large amounts of heat, and the heat is converted into electricity.

2. Walk students through the basic steps of coal production and how it is used to generate electricity.

• First, miners uncover coal in surface or underground mines. They use massive equipment, much of which is computerized.

• Second, trains or barges carry hundreds of millions of tons of coal to power plants.

• Third, coal is combusted in a power plant. The heat turns water into steam in a large box called a boiler.

• Fourth, pressure from the steam turns the propeller blades of a turbine. The pressure pushes the blades and makes the turbine spin.

• Fifth, the turbine is connected to a generator by a spinning rod. This rod turns magnets inside coils of wire in the generator. This process creates electricity inside of the wires.

3. The last step in the production of electricity is delivering it to users. The electricity is carried through enormous power lines to cities and towns. Every home, business, factory, and any other place that uses electricity is connected to the power plant. In some places, the power behind the light switch is coming from a power plant hundreds of miles away.

4. Distribute copies of Worksheet 3 (PDF) and guide students in completing the activity.
(Possible answers: 1. Trains or barges carry mined coal to power plants. 2. Coal is combusted to create steam that makes the turbine move. 3. Propeller blades, turbine, generator, spinning rods, magnets, wire coils. 4. Steam or pressure. 5. Electricity is delivered to homes through wires.)

Bonus Worksheet: Have students solve the math word problems on the worksheet “America’s Power: It All Adds Up!” (PDF).
Answers to Bonus Worksheet: 1: 10,000 tons; 2: 281 miles; 3: 162 more surface mines; 270 total coal mines; Bonus question: Answers will vary.