5 4 Gizmo Energy Conversions

Name: Abby Telenko
Date: 3/11/14
Student Exploration: Energy Conversions

Vocabulary: chemical energy, electrical current, energy, fossil fuel, global warming, gravitational
energy, hydroelectricity, kinetic energy, light, nonrenewable resource, nuclear energy, renewable
resource, sound, thermal energy
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. What are sources of electricity? List as many as you can. There is solar electricity,
hydroelectricity, geothermal electricity, nuclear energy
2. Where do people and other animals get energy to move around? People and animals get
their energy from foods and the nutrients inside of the foods
3.
Where do plants get energy to live and grow? They get their energy from the sun, water,
and the carbon dioxide we humans produce
Gizmo Warm-up
In the Energy Conversions Gizmo, be sure Information
mode is selected. Click on each of the different items in the
scene and read about each one.
1. Which object converts sunlight into sugars?
Corn
2. Which object converts wind power to electricity?
Wind Turbine
3. Which object converts light to electricity? Solar Panel
4. Which object converts electricity to light? A Light Bulb
Activity A:
Energy Paths
Get the Gizmo ready:

Select the Path mode.
Question: Where do we get energy to run, climb, play, and do all the other things we do?
1. Form hypothesis: Where do you think we humans get energy? If the sun shines down on
the earth, solar panels will convert energy to give us light, and the crops will use the
sunlight to grow. Then the crops will be sent to the store, where they will be bought
and consumed.
2. Create a path: You will now form an energy path to see where our energy comes from.
A. Click on the person and read. Where do people get energy? From food
B. Now click on the chicken. Where does the chicken get energy? From food
C. Click on the corn. Where does the corn get energy? From the sunlight
D. Click on the Sun. How does the Sun get energy? In the suns core, hydrogen
changed into helium by a nuclear reaction
E. Fill in the energy path below starting with the Sun.
Sun Corn Chicken Person
3. Apply: Click Reset and then click on the toaster. Using the Gizmo, create four energy paths
to explain how the toaster could get its energy. (One path will only have three objects.)
A. Sun Solar Panels Toaster
B. Sun Air Wind Turbine Toaster
C. Sun Corn Ethanol Plant Toaster
D. Sun Water Dam Toaster
4. Analyze: Where does each path begin? The Sun

5. Draw conclusions: What would life on Earth be like without the Sun? There wouldnt be
any life on Earth without the Sun. because the Sun produces energy for plants to
grow, then the plants provide us oxygen which is something us humans kind of need
to survive. Also without the sun, there would be a very limited supply of energy.
Activity B:
Click Reset.
Check that Path mode is still selected.
Energy
Conversions
Question: How is energy changed from one form to another?
1. Classify: Energy is the ability to exert force and cause change. Energy has many forms:
Kinetic energy is energy of motion. All moving things have kinetic energy.
o Sound is energy of vibrating materials or air molecules.

o Thermal energy is the energy of tiny moving particles. As an object heats up,
particles move faster and thermal energy increases.
Gravitational energy is stored energy that exists based on the position of an object.
The higher an object is, the greater its gravitational energy.
Electrical current is energy that comes from moving charged particles.
Light is electromagnetic waves that are visible to the eye.
Chemical energy is energy that is stored in the bonds holding atoms together.
Nuclear energy is energy released when atoms split apart or join together.
2. Create path: Create an energy path in the Gizmo, starting at the Sun. For each step of the
path, describe the energy conversion that takes place. The first one is done for you. Discuss
your answers with your classmates and teacher.
Energy Path
Energy conversion
Nuclear energy is converted to light and thermal energy.
____Sun_____
Corn absorbs the sunlight to produce sugars and oxygen
Corn
Ethanol Plant
Corn is fermented to produce ethanol, and give an electrical

current
Stereo
The speaker takes the electrical current and produces sound
3. On your own: Create at least two more paths on the Gizmo. List the energy conversions that
happen along each path. Record your work on separate paper or in your notebook.
Path 1
Sun~ nuclear energy is converted to light and thermal energy
Air~ The sun causes the air to warm up, and pockets of warn air rise and
cooler air rushes in, creating wind
Wind Turbine~ Wind turn turbine blades, producing an electrical current
Light~ The light bulb, picks up the electrical current flow through a thin wire
called a filament
Path 2
Sun~ nuclear energy is converted to light and thermal energy
Solar Panel~ sunlight removes electrons from crystals of silicon. The electrons
flow through wires as electrical current
Toaster~ an electrical current flows through coils of wire, causing them to heat up
and turn red-hot
4. Apply: Where in the Gizmo (and in real life) do the following energy conversions occur?
Chemical to thermal to electrical current: The Sun to Ethanol Plant to the Toaster
Gravitational to kinetic to electrical current: Air to Wind Turbine to Light
Extension:
Renewable Energy

Click Reset.
Select the Information mode.
Introduction: Over 80% of our energy comes from the burning of fossil fuels such as oil, gas,
and coal. Fossil fuels are fairly cheap and plentiful, but there are several problems:
Fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources. That means there is a limited supply. Once
the world runs out, there is no way to get more.
Burning fossil fuels adds carbon dioxide to the air. Most scientists agree that this causes
the gradual warming of Earths climate, or global warming.
Question: What types of energy do not harm our environment?
1. Describe: Four examples of renewable resources are featured in the Energy Conversions
Gizmo. These resources are produced all the time, so they will not run out. Read about each
energy source, and then explain how each is produced in your own words.
A. Wind power: Air would make wind turbines move, causing wind power
B. Water power (also called hydroelectricity): Water turns turbine blades that
connect to a generator that produces an electrical current
C. Solar power: The solar panel removes electrons from the sun to produce an
electrical current
D. Ethanol: Corn and other organisms create ethanol, and burning ethanol creates
an electrical current
2. On your own: Learn more about one of these renewable resources using the internet or by
reading library books. Explain its advantages and disadvantages to your teacher and class.
Wind Turbine
Wind turns turbine blades, which are connected to a generator. Inside the
generator a look of wire spins in a magnetic field producing electrical currents. Wind
turbines are not very popular in the US, but they are used commonly in Europe. And
advantage of wind turbines are that they produce clean and independent energy. Wind
turbines are 100% clean, renewable, and independent source of energy. Another
advantage is that they are cheap. And they are getting cheaper. A disadvantage is that
not every location is suitable for wind turbines. Another disadvantage is that wind
turbines are not that popular. Some people say they are noisy, and they arent good for
tourism.

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What are some sources of renewable energy?

How does a wind turbine generate electricity?

Name: Abby Telenko

Student Exploration: Energy Conversions

Get the Gizmo ready:

4. Analyze: Where does each path begin? The Sun

Get the Gizmo ready:

Question: How is energy changed from one form to another?

o Sound is energy of vibrating materials or air molecules.

Electrical current is energy that comes from moving charged particles.

Light is electromagnetic waves that are visible to the eye.

Corn is fermented to produce ethanol, and give an electrical

The speaker takes the electrical current and produces sound

Get the Gizmo ready:

Question: What types of energy do not harm our environment?

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