HIGH

SECONDARY
SCHOOL ENERGY EXPERIMENTS
 Fueling the next
generation of innovators
Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) affect nearly every aspect of our lives —
from the cars we drive, to the food we eat, to the smartphones we use to communicate.

Innovation is the key to helping the U.S. stay competitive in today’s globalized, technology-
driven world. As a result, STEM jobs are in high demand and typically pay significantly better
than non-STEM fields. To fill the high-skilled jobs that will power the American economy in the
future, the U.S. needs more students to study STEM.

Additionally, BP depends on people with strong foundations in STEM to help solve the world’s
energy challenges. These engineers, scientists, and other professionals find ways to produce
and deliver the energy that heats our homes, powers our schools, cooks our food, and fuels our
cars. The information and activities in this booklet will help you understand the important role
STEM plays in the energy industry.

2 ©2015 The NEED Project 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org
 Table of Contents
Student Text 4

Acid Rain 8

Clean Air 9

Corroding Metals 10

Cryogenic Roses 11

Frozen Salt 12

Natural and Man-Made Fibers 13

Slow Cooker 14

Solar Distillation 15

Thermal Energy Put to Work 16

©2015 The NEED Project 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org 3
 e Introduction to Energy

What Is Energy?
Energy does things for us. It moves cars along the road and boats on the
water. It bakes a cake in the oven and keeps ice frozen in the freezer. It
Energy at a Glance, 2013
plays our favorite songs and lights our homes at night. Energy helps our
2012 2013
bodies grow and our minds think. Energy is a changing, doing, moving,
working thing. World Population 7,020,760,225 7,098,495,231

Energy is defined as the ability to produce change or do work, and that U.S. Population 313,873,685 316,128,839
work can be divided into several main tasks we easily recognize: World Energy Production 513.695 Q 524.501 Q
U.S. Energy Production 79.219 Q 81.942 Q
— Energy produces light.
— Renewables 8.838 Q 9.298 Q
— Energy produces heat.
— Nonrenewables 70.381 Q 72.644 Q
— Energy produces motion.
World Energy Consumption 518.086 Q 528.743 Q
— Energy produces sound. U.S. Energy Consumption 96.705 Q 97.785 Q
— Energy produces growth. — Renewables 8.798 Q 9.298 Q
— Energy powers technology. — Nonrenewables 87.907 Q 88.487 Q

Forms of Energy Q = Quad (1015 Btu) see Measuring Energy on page 6.

Data: Energy Information Administration

There are many forms of energy, but they all fall into two categories–
potential or kinetic.

POTENTIAL ENERGY
Potential energy is stored energy and the energy of position, or
gravitational potential energy. There are several forms of potential
Forms of Energy
energy, including:
POTENTIAL KINETIC
ƒ
ƒChemical energy is energy stored in the bonds of atoms and molecules.
It is the energy that holds these particles together. Foods we eat,
Chemical Electrical
biomass, petroleum, natural gas, and propane are examples of stored
Energy Energy
chemical energy.
During photosynthesis, sunlight gives plants the energy they need to
build complex chemical compounds. When these compounds are later Elastic Radiant
broken down, the stored chemical energy is released as heat, light,
Energy Energy
motion, and sound.
ƒ
ƒElastic energy is energy stored in objects by the application of a force.
Compressed springs and stretched rubber bands are examples of elastic Thermal
Nuclear Energy
energy.
Energy
ƒ
ƒNuclear energy is energy stored in the nucleus of an atom—the energy
that binds the nucleus together. The energy can be released when the Motion
nuclei are combined or split apart. Nuclear power plants split the nuclei Energy
of uranium atoms in a process called fission. The sun combines the
Gravitational
nuclei of hydrogen atoms into helium atoms in a process called fusion.
Potential
In both fission and fusion, mass is converted into energy, according to Energy Sound
Einstein’s Theory, E = mc2. Energy
ƒ
ƒGravitational potential energy is the energy of position or place. A
rock resting at the top of a hill contains gravitational potential energy
because of its position. Hydropower, such as water in a reservoir behind
a dam, is an example of gravitational potential energy.

4 ©2015 The NEED Project 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org
 KINETIC ENERGY
Kinetic energy is motion—the motion of waves, electrons, atoms,
Efficiency
molecules, substances, and objects. Energy efficiency is the amount of useful energy you can get out of a
system. In theory, a 100 percent energy efficient machine would change
ƒ
ƒElectrical energy is the movement of electrons. Everything is made of all of the energy put in it into useful work. Converting one form of energy
tiny particles called atoms. Atoms are made of even smaller particles into another form always involves a loss of usable energy, usually in the
called electrons, protons, and neutrons. Applying a force can make form of thermal energy.
some of the electrons move. Electrons moving through a wire are
called electricity. Lightning is another example of electrical energy. In fact, most energy transformations are not very efficient. The human
body is no exception. Your body is like a machine, and the fuel for your
ƒ
ƒRadiant energy is electromagnetic energy that travels in transverse “machine” is food. Food gives us the energy to move, breathe, and think.
waves. Radiant energy includes visible light, x-rays, gamma rays, and Your body is very inefficient at converting food into useful work. Most of
radio waves. Solar energy is an example of radiant energy. the energy in your body is released as thermal energy.
ƒ
ƒThermal energy, which is often described as heat, is the internal An incandescent light bulb isn’t efficient either. This type of light bulb
energy in substances—the vibration and movement of atoms and converts ten percent of the electrical energy into light and the rest (90
molecules within substances. The faster molecules and atoms vibrate percent) is converted into thermal energy. That’s why these light bulbs
and move within a substance, the more energy they possess and the are so hot to the touch.
hotter they become. Geothermal energy is an example of thermal
energy. Most electric power plants that use steam to spin turbines are about

Transformations
ƒ
ƒMotion energy is the movement of objects and substances from one
place to another. According to Newton’s Laws of Motion, objects and
Efficiency of a Power Plant
35 percent efficient. Thus, it takes three units of fuel to make one unit
of electricity.
Most thermalMost
dissipates
powerofplants
the are
other
environment
aboutenergy is lost
35 percent
where we
as waste
efficient.
can no
heat.
Of the 100
longer
unitsThis
use
heat
of energy
that go into a plant, 65 units are lost as one form of energy is converted to otherasforms.
into the it a
substances move when an unbalanced force is applied. Wind is an practical source of energy.
The remaining 35 units of energy leave the plant to do usable work.
example of motion energy. Efficiency of a Power Plant
ƒ
ƒSound energy is the movement of energy through substances in Most thermal power plants are about 35 THERMAL
percentENERGY
efficient. Of the 100 units of energy
longitudinal (compression/rarefaction) waves. Sound is produced FUEL SUPPLY FUEL BURNING ELECTRICITY
that go into a plant, 65 units are lost as one form of energy is converted to other forms.
when a force causes an object or substance to vibrate. The energy is Efficiency of a Thermal Power Plant
The remaining 35 units of energy leave the plantELECTRICITY
STEAM LINE
to do usable work.
GENERATION TRANSMISSION
transferred through the substance in a wave. 3
100 units of GENERATOR
BOILER THERMAL ENERGY
energy go in SWITCHYARD
Motion of Energy
Conservation Chemical Motion
FUEL SUPPLY
CHEMICAL
FUEL BURNING 2 TURBINE
4
5 ELECTRICITY
6
ENERGY ELECTRICITY GENERATION TRANSMISSION
3 STEAM LINE
Your parents may tell you to conserve energy. “Turn off the lights,” they 100 units of FEED GENERATOR
BOILER WATER CONDENSER 35 units of
say. But to scientists, conservation of energy means something quite energy
1 go in SWITCHYARD
energy
TURBINE 5
different. The Law of Conservation of Energy says energy is neither CHEMICAL 2 4 MOTION ENERGY come6 out
created nor destroyed. ENERGY
Fuel Sources FEED
When we use energy, we do not use it completely—we just change its WATER CONDENSER 35 units of
1 energy
form. That’s really what we mean when we say we are using energy. We MOTION ENERGY come out
Chemical Electrical
change one form of energy into another. A car engine burns gasoline, Thermal
Petroleum
Fuel Sources
Coal Natural Gas Biomass
converting the chemical energy in the gasoline into motion energy
that makes the car move. Old-fashioned windmills changed the kinetic How a Thermal Power Plant Works
energy of the wind into motion energy to grind grain. Solar cells change 1. Fuel is fed into a boiler, where it is burned to release thermal energy.
radiant energy into electrical energy. Petroleum Coal Natural Gas Biomass
2. Water is piped into the boiler and heated, turning it into steam.
Energy can change form, but the total quantity of energy in the How a Thermal Power Plant Works
3. The steam travels at high pressure through a steam line.
universe remains the same. The only exception to this law is when a 1. Fuel is fed into a boiler, where it is burned to release thermal energy.
small amount of matter is converted into energy during nuclear fusion 4. The high pressure steam turns a turbine, which spins a shaft.
2. Water is piped into the boiler and heated, turning it into steam.
and fission. 5. Inside the generator, the shaft spins coils of copper wire inside a ring of magnets.
3. The
Thissteam
createstravels at highfield,
an electric pressure through
producing a steam line.
electricity.
Energy Transformations 4.
6. The high pressure
Electricity steam
is sent to turns a turbine,
a switchyard, wherewhich spins a shaft.
a transformer increases the voltage,
allowing
5. Inside theitgenerator,
to travel through
the shaftthe electric
spins coils ofgrid.
copper wire inside a ring of magnets.
This creates an electric field, producing electricity.
6. Electricity is sent to a switchyard, where a transformer increases the voltage,
allowing it to travel through the electric grid.
Chemical Motion Chemical Motion

Radiant Chemical Electrical Thermal

©2015 The NEED Project 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org 5
 Sources of Energy Renewable energy sources include biomass, geothermal, hydropower,
solar, and wind. They are called renewable energy sources because their
People have always used energy to do work for them. Thousands of supplies are replenished in a short time. Day after day, the sun shines,
years ago, early humans burned wood to provide light, heat their living the wind blows, and the rivers flow. We use renewable energy sources
spaces, and cook their food. Later, people used the wind to move their mainly to make electricity.
boats from place to place. A hundred years ago, people began using
Is electricity a renewable or nonrenewable source of energy? The
falling water to make electricity.
answer is neither. Electricity is different from the other energy sources
Today, people use more energy than ever from a variety of sources for because it is a secondary source of energy. That means we have to
a multitude of tasks and our lives are undoubtedly better for it. Our use another energy source to make it. In the United States, coal is the
homes are comfortable and full of useful and entertaining electrical number one fuel for generating electricity.
devices. We communicate instantaneously in many ways. We live
longer, healthier lives. We travel the world, or at least see it on television
and the internet.
The ten major energy sources we use today are classified into two broad
groups—nonrenewable and renewable.
Nonrenewable energy sources include coal, petroleum, natural gas,
U.S. Energy Consumption by Source, 2013
propane, and uranium. They are used to generate electricity, to heat
our homes, to move our cars, and to manufacture products from candy NONRENEWABLE, 90.47% RENEWABLE, 9.52%
bars to cell phones.
These energy sources are called nonrenewable because they cannot be
replenished in a short period of time. Petroleum, a fossil fuel, for example,
was formed hundreds of millions of years ago, before dinosaurs existed. Petroleum 35.20% Biomass 4.73%
It was formed from the remains of ancient sea life, so it cannot be made Uses: transportation, Uses: electricity, heating,
manufacturing transportation
quickly. We could run out of economically recoverable nonrenewable
resources some day.

Measuring Energy Natural Gas 26.59%

Uses: electricity, heating,
Hydropower 2.62%
Uses: electricity
manufacturing
“You can’t compare apples and oranges,” the old saying
goes. That holds true for energy sources. We buy gasoline in
gallons, wood in cords, and natural gas in cubic feet. How
can we compare them? With British thermal units (Btu),
that’s how. The energy contained in gasoline, wood, or other Coal 18.52% Wind 1.63%
energy sources can be measured by the amount of heat in Uses: electricity, manufacturing Uses: electricity
Btu it can produce.

One Btu is the amount of thermal energy needed to raise the

temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. A
single Btu is quite small. A wooden kitchen match, if allowed
Uranium 8.47% Solar 0.31%
to burn completely, would give off about one Btu of energy. Uses: electricity Uses: electricity, heating
One ounce of gasoline contains almost 1,000 Btu of energy.

Every day the average American uses about 847,000 Btu. We

use the term quad (Q) to measure very large quantities of
energy. A quad is one quadrillion (1,000,000,000,000,000 or
Propane 1.69% Geothermal 0.23%
1015) Btu. The United States uses about one quad of energy Uses: electricity, heating
Uses: heating, manufacturing
approximately every 3.7 days. In 2007, the U.S. consumed
101.296 quads of energy, an all-time high. Data: Energy Information Administration
*Total does not equal 100% due to independent rounding.

6 ©2015 The NEED Project 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org
 Energy Use Energy Use and Prices
Imagine how much energy you use every day. You wake up to an Several decades ago, in 1973, Americans faced a major oil price shock
electric alarm clock and charge your cell phone. You take a shower with due to an oil embargo. People didn’t know how the country would
water warmed by a hot water heater using electricity or natural gas. react. How would Americans adjust to skyrocketing energy prices?
How would manufacturers and industries respond? We didn’t know
You listen to music on your MP3 player as you dress. You catch the
the answers.
bus to school. And that’s just some of the energy you use to get you
through the first part of your day! Now we know that Americans tend to use less energy when energy
prices are high. We have the statistics to prove it. When energy prices
Every day, the average American uses about as much energy as is
increased sharply in the early 1970s, energy use dropped, creating
stored in six and a half gallons of gasoline. That’s every person, every
a gap between actual energy use and how much the experts had
day. Over a course of one year, the sum of this energy is equal to about
thought Americans would be using.
2,400 gallons of gasoline per person. This use of energy is called energy
consumption. The same thing happened when energy prices shot up again in 1979,
1980, and more recently in 2008—people used less energy. When

Energy Users prices started to drop, energy use began to increase.

We don’t want to simplify energy demand too much. The price of
The U.S. Department of Energy uses categories to classify energy
energy is not the only factor in the equation. Other factors that
users—residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation. These
affect how much energy we use include the public’s concern for the
categories are called the sectors of the economy.
environment and new technologies that can improve the efficiency
ƒƒ Residential/Commercial and performance of automobiles and appliances.
Residences are people’s homes. Commercial buildings include office Most reductions in energy consumption in recent years are the result of
buildings, hospitals, stores, restaurants, and schools. Residential and improved technologies in industry, vehicles, and appliances. Without
commercial energy use are lumped together because homes and these energy conservation and efficiency technologies, we would be
businesses use energy in the same ways—for heating, air conditioning, using much more energy today.
water heating, lighting, and operating appliances.
In 2013, the United States used 29 percent more energy than it did in
The residential/commercial sector of the economy consumed 40.21 1973. That might sound like a lot, but the population has increased
percent of the total energy supply in 2013, more energy than either by over 49 percent and the nation’s gross domestic product was 2.413
of the other sectors, with a total of 39.32 quads. The residential sector times that of 1973.
consumed 21.27 quads and the commercial sector consumed 18.04
You may wonder why the 1970s are important—it was so long ago.
quads.
However, the energy crisis during this decade taught us a valuable
lesson. If every person in the United States today consumed energy at
ƒƒ Industrial
the rate we did in the 1970s, we would be using much more energy than
The industrial sector includes manufacturing, construction, mining,
we are—perhaps as much as double the amount. Energy efficiency
farming, fishing, and forestry. This sector consumed 31.20 quads
technologies have made a huge impact on overall consumption since
of energy in 2013, which accounted for 31.90 percent of total
the energy crisis of 1973.
consumption.

ƒƒ Transportation
The transportation sector refers to energy consumption by cars, buses, U.S. Energy Consumption by Sector, 2013
trucks, trains, ships, and airplanes. In 2013, the U.S. consumed 27.27
quads of energy for transportation. 92.01 percent of this energy was
INDUSTRIAL 31.90% TRANSPORTATION 27.89%
Top Industrial Sources: Top Transportation Sources:
from petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.  Petroleum  Petroleum

 Natural Gas  Biomass

 Biomass  Natural Gas

COMMERCIAL 18.45% RESIDENTIAL 21.76%

Top Commercial Sources: Top Residential Sources:
 Natural Gas  Natural Gas

 Petroleum  Petroleum

 Biomass  Biomass

Data: Energy Information Administration

©2015 The NEED Project 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org 7
 Acid Rain

Grade Levels: 7-9

& Background
An acid is a chemical that has extra hydrogen particles in it. When certain gases mix together with water in our atmosphere, it can create
acid rain. Creating pollution can sometimes cause more acid rain to be produced. Is there acid rain all the time? Is it always the same?

? Questions
Does precipitation in your area contain acidic emissions from power plants, industries, or vehicle emissions?
Does the acidity of the precipitation change during the year?

 Possible Hypotheses
The precipitation does/does not contain acids.
The acidity levels change/do not change during the year.

 Materials
ƒ
ƒLitmus paper
ƒ
ƒPlastic container
ƒ
ƒMeter stick

Procedure
1. Place a plastic container outside every day to catch any precipitation
that falls.
2. Measure the amount and acidity of the precipitation every day at the
same time and record on a calendar.
3. Analyze your data after several months.

 Analysis and Conclusion

Is the precipitation in your area acidic? Does the acidity level change, and if
so, why? What do you think causes any acidity in the precipitation? Research
the power plants, industries, and vehicle emissions in your area.

8 ©2015 The NEED Project 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org
 Clean Air

Grade Levels: 7-10

& Background
More than 60% of a school’s energy bill is spent on heating, cooling, and ventilating buildings to keep the air safe to breath and the right
temperature.

? Question
Does indoor or outdoor air have more particulate pollution?

 Possible Hypothesis

___________________________________________________________ air has more particulate pollution.

 Materials
ƒ White index cards
ƒ15
ƒ
ƒPetroleum jelly
ƒ
ƒCotton swabs
ƒ
ƒTape
ƒ
ƒMagnifying glass

Procedure
1. Label the index cards I-1 to I-7 and O-1 to O-7. Label one
card C for control.
2. Smear petroleum jelly on cards I-1, O-1, and C using a
cotton swab. Tape cards I-1 and O-1 to the same window,
I-1 on the inside and O-1 on the outside. Avoid placing the
cards near a door.
3. Place the control card in a closed drawer or inside a cabinet.
4. After 24 hours, take the cards down and repeat the
procedure with the cards labeled I-2 and O-2. Make a note
of the weather each day, and what you see happening to
the petroleum jelly.
5. Do this for a week, replacing the cards each day with the
next number. Examine the cards closely and compare them
to each other, to previous sets, and to the control.
6. Record your observations, noting any differences.
7. Repeat the experiment in a different location or at a
different time of year.

 Analysis and Conclusion

How does the inside and outside air compare? How does it compare in different weather, different locations, and in different seasons? What
do you think is the main source of particulate pollution in your area? Research and find out.

©2015 The NEED Project 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org 9
 Corroding Metals

Grade Levels: 4-9

& Background
Everything has energy. You eat food because its chemical energy gives you energy to run and talk and play. Chemical energy is also stored
within the tiny particles, called atoms, within a material. Those atoms are held together in a bond. If a bond is broken or created, chemical
energy is transferred in something called a chemical reaction. Sometimes when materials mix together, chemical reactions occur, and
energy is released.

A Vocabulary
ƒ
ƒcorrosion: a slow breakdown of a metal

? Questions
What types of metal are susceptible to corrosion?
What kinds of liquid promote corrosion?

 Possible Hypotheses

__________________________________________ will / will not corrode when exposed to ________________________________.

 Materials
ƒ
ƒBowls
ƒ
ƒWater
ƒ
ƒOrange juice
ƒ Pieces of steel wool
ƒ2
ƒ Stainless steel teaspoons
ƒ2
ƒ Pennies
ƒ2
ƒ Squares of aluminum foil
ƒ2

Procedure
1. Fill two bowls – one with water and the other with juice.
2. Put one piece of each of the metal objects in each bowl.
3. Leave the metals in the liquids for a week where they will not be disturbed.
4. After one week, take out the metal samples and examine them. Record
your observations.

 Analysis and Conclusion

Which liquid caused more corrosion? Which metals were more susceptible to
corrosion? Was there a combination of liquid and metal that caused the most
corrosion? When can you use metals that corrode and when should you use
metals that don’t corrode?

10 ©2015 The NEED Project 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org
 Cryogenic Roses

Grade Levels: 4-9

& Background
When living things die, they slowly break down or decay over time. This is a chemical reaction where chemical energy is transferred.
Adding heat or removing heat can cause a chemical reaction to speed up, or slow down. Heating or cooling a material can also change
how quickly its energy is released or absorbed.

A Vocabulary
ƒ
ƒcryogenic: a material at a very low termperature

? Question
Can ice be used to preserve once-living things?

 Possible Hypothesis
Ice can/cannot preserve once-living things.

 Materials
ƒ Rose buds just beginning to open
ƒ5
ƒ Plastic bowls
ƒ4
ƒ
ƒWater
ƒ
ƒFreezer

Procedure
1. Fill four plastic bowls with equal amounts of water.
2. Observe the five rose buds and record any differences in the fragrance, texture, appearance, or color.
3. Submerge one rose bud in each bowl of water and put the bowls in the freezer, keeping one rose bud at room temperature for a
control. Observe the control daily and record your observations.
4. After one week, allow one rose bud to thaw and observe, comparing it to the control and to the observations made before freezing.
Place the thawed rose bud with the control.
5. Repeat this procedure the next week with another frozen rose. Do this weekly until all roses have been thawed and observed.

 Analysis and Conclusion

Did ice preserve the roses well? Did the length of freezing have an effect? What happened to the roses once they were thawed? How did
the freezing affect the decaying process?

 Real World Connection

What practical applications could this technique be used for?

©2015 The NEED Project 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org 11
 Frozen Salt

Grade Levels: 7-10

& Background
Matter comes in three forms: solid, liquid, and gas. Solid water is called ice. It becomes ice through freezing. When ice is melted it becomes
liquid. If liquid water is heated, it becomes a gas, or steam. When you change a solid to liquid or liquid to gas, or even a liquid to a solid,
energy must be added or removed. Some materials need more energy to freeze or melt than others.

? Question
What does salt do to the freezing point of water?

 Possible Hypothesis

Adding salt __________________________________________ the freezing point of water.

 Materials
ƒ 8-ounce Plastic cups
ƒ4
ƒ
ƒMeasuring cup
ƒ
ƒTable salt (sodium chloride)
ƒ
ƒFreezer
ƒ
ƒThermometer
ƒ
ƒTeaspoon

Procedure
1. Fill four cups, each with six ounces of tap water. Add a teaspoon of salt to one cup, two teaspoons to the second, and three teaspoons
to the third. Leave the fourth as your control.
2. Place the cups in the freezer. Observe the cups periodically until a thin layer of ice forms on the top of the water, and then record the
temperature of each cup.
3. Record your observations.

 Analysis and Conclusion

Did adding salt lower the freezing temperature of the water? What was the effect of adding more salt to the water? Can you think of ways
that this knowledge can be put to work for you?

12 ©2015 The NEED Project 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org
 Natural and Man-Made Fibers

Grade Levels: 4-9

& Background
Our clothes are made out of different materials. “Natural” fibers and fabrics come from plants or animals. For example, cotton is a plant, and
silk comes from the cocoons of silkworms. Some fabrics are called “man-made” or “synthetic” because man produces them from chemicals.
For example, polyester is made from a petroleum product. Even our fashion choices are related to energy!

A Vocabulary
ƒ
ƒdeteriorate; to become worse, break apart, to decay
ƒ
ƒdecompose; to rot, to separate into original elements
? Question
Do natural fibers decompose faster than man-made fibers?

 Possible Hypothesis
Natural fibers will decompose faster/slower than man-made fibers.

 Materials
ƒ
ƒOld 100% cotton t-shirt (natural)
ƒ
ƒOld nylon stocking or tights (synthetic)
ƒ
ƒOld wool sock or yarn (natural)
ƒ
ƒOld acrylic or polyester sweater (synthetic)
ƒ
ƒPlot of soil
ƒ
ƒWater
ƒ
ƒGlass jar with lid

Procedure
1. Cut three four-inch squares from each material.
2. Bury one square of each material, making sure you mark the spot where they are buried.
3. Put squares of each material in a jar, fill it with water, and put a lid on it. Place the jar inside in a sunny place.
4. Place the third set of squares in a dark place where they will not be disturbed.
5. After one month, remove the samples from the ground, the dark place, and the jar. Examine the squares and record your observations.

 Analysis and Conclusion

Which fibers deteriorated? Which environment made the
materials deteriorate more quickly? Can you find out why?

©2015 The NEED Project 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org 13
 Slow Cooker

Grade Levels: 7-10

& Background
Over half of the energy that we use in our houses is used for heating and for cooling. We can keep the warm or cool air inside by insulating
our homes. Saving energy can also save a family money on their energy bills.

? Question
Which natural material works best to insulate a homemade slow cooker?

 Possible Hypothesis

The best insulator for a slow cooker is _____________________________________________.

 Materials
ƒ Cardboard boxes of equal size (large enough to hold pan and insulating material)
ƒ3
ƒ Potatoes of equal size
ƒ3
ƒ Identical cooking pans with lids
ƒ3
ƒ
ƒNewspaper, cloth, hay, or other insulating materials
ƒ Cooking thermometers
ƒ3
ƒ
ƒWater
ƒ
ƒStove

Procedure
1. Place one potato in each pan and cover with the same
amount of water. Boil them simultaneously for two
minutes over the same amount of heat.
2. Place a layer of one insulating material in the bottom
of each box, place the pans inside the boxes, surround
the pans with insulating material, and close.
3. After one hour, record the temperature of the interior
of the potatoes.

 Analysis and Conclusion

Which insulator worked best? Is this an energy efficient
way to cook food?

14 ©2015 The NEED Project 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org
 Solar Distillation

Grade Levels: 4-9

& Background
Hydropower is considered a renewable energy source because the water on Earth is constantly going through the water cycle because of
the sun’s energy. Here’s another way we may be able to use the sun to make water more useful.

A Vocabulary
ƒ
ƒdistill: to turn something into a gas (vaporization) and then back into a liquid (condensation) to purify it
? Questions
Can you distill clean water from muddy water?
Can you distill clean water from salty water?

 Possible Hypotheses
You can/cannot make clean water from muddy water.
You can/cannot make clean water from salty water.

 Materials
ƒ Large plastic containers
ƒ2
ƒ
ƒClear plastic wrap
ƒ
ƒMasking tape
ƒ Small rocks
ƒ2
ƒ Small glasses
ƒ2
ƒ Tablespoons of dirt
ƒ2
ƒ Tablespoons of salt
ƒ2
ƒ
ƒWater

Procedure
1. Fill both plastic containers with one inch of water. Mix the dirt into the
water in one and the salt into the other.
2. Place one empty glass upright into the middle of each plastic container.
Make sure it remains empty.
3. Cover both plastic containers tightly with plastic wrap and seal them with
tape. Place a small rock in the middle of the plastic wrap, directly over each
glass but not touching it.
4. Place the stills in a sunny place for two hours. Examine any water that forms
in the glass. Record your observations.

 Analysis and Conclusion

Did the stills make clean water?

 Real World Connection

Can you explain how they worked? Can you imagine a situation in which knowledge could save your life? It is estimated that over 1 billion
people worldwide drink water that is unhealthy. How could your project help them?

©2015 The NEED Project 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org 15
 Thermal Energy Put to Work

Grade Levels: 7-10

& Background
When air is heated, the molecules move around faster and get further apart (if there is room to spread). The cooler air (with its molecules
closer together) starts to sink, pushing the warmer air up. This is where we get the phrase “hot air rises.”

? Question
Can thermal energy be made to do useful work?

 Possible Hypothesis
Thermal energy is/is not useful energy that can be used for work.

 Materials
ƒ
ƒPlastic 1-liter bottle
ƒ
ƒLarge balloon
ƒ
ƒFreezer
ƒ
ƒBowl of hot (not boiling) water
ƒ
ƒBowl of ice water
ƒ
ƒSmall rock

Procedure
1. Cool the balloon and the bottle in the freezer for 5 minutes.
2. Fill the bowl with hot, not boiling, water.
3. Put the balloon over the mouth of the bottle, making sure
that the air has been squeezed from the balloon. Place the
bottle into the hot water.
4. The air inside the bottle should expand and inflate the
balloon. After it is inflated, put the bottle in the bowl of ice
water and observe it deflate.
5. Design a device to convert this expansion and contraction
into usable work, such as lifting a rock. Design a device
that circulates hot, then cold, water so that the balloon
deflates and inflates without moving the bottle.

 Analysis and Conclusion

Were you able to make a device that performed useful work? Can you think of devices that convert thermal energy into motion? Can you
think of a way to convert thermal energy into electrical energy?

 Real World Connection

Research internal combustion engines and turbine generators.

16 ©2015 The NEED Project 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org
 Looking For More Resources?
Our supplemental materials page contains PowerPoints, animations, and other great resources to
compliment what you are teaching!
This page is available at www.NEED.org/educators.

©2015 The NEED Project 8408 Kao Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 1.800.875.5029 www.NEED.org 17
These activities have been provided by The NEED Project.
For more information please visit www.NEED.org.