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The Basics of Electrical Energy

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How is electricity made?

Student responses!

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Electromagnetic Induction

  • A phenomenon where a moving magnetic field generates an electric current
  • Technical wording: ‘Production of an electromotive force across an electrical conductor in a changing magnetic field’
  • This means that the movement of a magnet through a coil of wire will induce a current in the coiled wire

thesciencehive.co.uk

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Turbine Generator

  • Spinning a rudder attached to a shaft with a magnet on one end can result in electromagnetic induction
  • The spun magnet moves within a large coil of conductive wire, thus generating a large electric current
  • Causing rotation in the blades of the turbine is the key!
  • Options: water/steam flowing through or other mechanical mechanism

usgs.gov

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Energy and H2O = Steam

  • Most common method of driving a turbine: steam!
  • Thermal energy is added to water, creating steam
  • This steam spins the blade of the turbine, causing the magnet to move through the coil of wire
  • Electricity is produced!

electrical4u.com

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Cheapest Method?

  • Find something that burns … and light it up!
  • The cheaper to collect and easier to burn the better; thus the heavy usage of fossil fuels

CHE 596, Lecture 4-7, Dr. Li, NCSU

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Amounts of CO2

  • Climate Science in Nutshell (Planet Nutshell on YouTube)
  • Some of the outputs for this process can be harmful!
  • Carbon Footprint Calculator - what is yours??

Mr. Barry’s Carbon Footprint

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CO2 and Climate Change

  • Trends show significant increase in the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere...

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CO2 and Climate Change

  • … leading to increased temperatures throughout the Earth
  • This increase in temperature is exacerbating issues such as rising sea levels, habitat damage, and depleted clean water supplies

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Energy Production CO2

  • Of Mr. Barry’s 41 tons of CO2 production per year, approximately 38% are because of energy production based on a comparison to per capita CO2 emission data
    • European Commission Joint Research Centre
    • EDGAR - Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research

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Future Needs

  • Need: Electrical energy in a modern world
  • Need: Reduction of CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere
  • How can we accomplish both of these??

ggwash.org