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? The ability to do work

2) Explain the law of conservation of energy. Give examples of energy transformations. law of science
that states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but only changed from one form into
another or transferred from one object to another. Water electricity.
3) What is energy efficiency? Getting the most out of the energy
4) What does it mean for energy to be nonrenewable? Renewable? Not being able to be created again, and
being able to be created again.
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?
7% and 93%

Renewable Energy Sources

6) What are the 6 forms of renewable energy resources? _____Wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, biomass,
biofuels

Solar

7) What is solar energy? Energy formed from the sun.

8) Solar energy is converted into what energy? solar

9) Give two examples of how solar energy is used. To power (some) houses, and/or (some) cars.
10)What do solar cells do? photovoltaic) cells convert the sun's energy into electricity. Whether
they're adorning your calculator or orbiting our planet on satellites, they rely on the the
photoelectric effect: the ability of matter to emit electrons when a light is shone on it.
11)What do solar power plants do? Use solar cells to store energy
12)What are the 2 main disadvantages to solar energy? Cost and location

13)Explain how solar energy is beneficial for the environment. It doesnt hurt the environment in any way
shape or form.
Wind.
14)What is wind and how is it caused? Wind is the movement of air, and it is caused by currents from things
that move and redirect the wind.
15)What did American colonists use windmills for? Wind energy
16)What do wind machines produce? Energy
17)Describe a wind power plant. Lots of wind mills
18)Describe the negative effects of wind machines. Unpredictable, sound pollution, possibly harmful to
environments, particular to region, different visualities

Geothermal
19)What does the word geothermal mean? Heat that comes straight from the Earth itself.
20)What is geothermal energy? Energy that is from the inside of the Earth where it is hot
21)Geothermal energy is generated in the Earths core.
22)Where is geothermal energy found? Near the earths core
23)Name 2 ways people have used direct geothermal energy? To heat their water, to heat their houses
24)Describe how has Iceland used geothermal energy? They use pipes that take the energy heating the water
and pumping it around the country.

 Biomass
25)What does Biomass mean and what does it contain? Total mass of organisms in a given area or volume.
organic matter used as a fuel, especially in a power station for the generation of electricity Name 5
things that are biomass materials
26)What is the most common biomass material? wood
27)84% of wood energy is used where? Industry, electric power producers. And commercial business
28)How can biomass energy be negative to the environment? We can use to much of it and pollute the
environment even further
Hydroelectric.
29)Hydroelectric power generates what type of energy? Water created energy.
30)What 3 states hold over one-half of the total U.S. hydroelectric capacity for electricity is Seattle, and
under Seattle. and Near the great lakes.
31)Most dams in the United States were not built to provide electricity, but for stop water and provide water
resources.

Ocean
32)Tides are the rising and falling of the ocean shore. What are tides caused by? The moon and how close it
is to Earth.
33)Compare wind turbines and wave turbines. Wind turbines are not in water and wave turbines are in
water.
34)Not only could the ocean provide us with tidal energy, but hydro energy.
35)What is Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion? temperature difference between cooler deep and
warmer shallow or surface ocean waters to run a heat engine and produce useful work,
usually in the form of electricity.
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? Open cycle, closed cycle

Use of Energy.

37)What are the 4 areas in which energy is used? Electricity, heating, water, vehicles

Residential- homes.

38)List the 5 ways in which energy is used in our homes. Heating, lighting, water, entertainment, fuel
39)What is the most used type of energy in the home? Electricity, heating

Saving Energy
Energy Efficiency
40)How much energy does the United States use? 6%
41)The average American consumes 5 times more energy than the world average.
42)Identify 5 different ways in which we can conserve energy. Be more green. Turn things off after we
are done with them. Unplug things. Get the most out of the energy whenever you end up using it. Dont
constantly turn it on and off.