Energy Conversions

Students evaluate various everyday energy conversion devices and draw block flow diagrams to show the forms and states of energy into and out of the device.  The student activity is preceded by a demonstration of a more complicated system to convert chemical energy to heat energy to mechanical energy.  Drawing the block energy conversion diagram for this system models the activity that the students then do themselves for other simpler systems. This activity begins with a demonstration of heating water to make a pinwheel turn illustrating converting chemical energy to heat energy to mechanical energy.  Students then draw illustrations of various energy conversions. A worksheet and sample energy conversions are included.

Weblink address (URL): 
Energy Conversions

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 

Learning Objectives:

After this activity, students should be able to:

  • Describe at least three examples of how energy is converted from one form to another.
  • Demonstrate and diagram the conversion of energy into usable forms using a flowchart.
  • State the law of conservation of energy.
  • Identify seven forms and two states of energy.
  • Identify the forms and states of energy in everyday items as we use them to do useful energy.
Essential and guiding questions: 

Discussion Questions:

  • Who knows what important process is happening between the different forms of energy? State that this conversion is something we use today. Relate it to our use of fossil fuels and the specific combustion process.
  • Make sure students understand that energy "losses" occur (energy is converted to an undesired form) as energy is converted from one form to the next.
  • Explain that we can model many different energy conversions in household appliances.

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding

Helpful Hints

Materials:

For the combustion demo:

  • sterno or other heating source
  • 250 ml erlemeyer flask with a 1-hole stopper
  • pre-heated water (near boiling) in a thermos
  • ring stand to hold pinwheel and flask above heating source
  • pinwheel
  • various electrical, mechanical or battery-operated devices (one per group); examples: battery-operated flashlight, shaking flashlight, light-solar panel-LEGO motor set-up, personal heat packet, Genecon generator, hairdryer, glow stick
  • Energy Conversion Student Worksheet

References

Contributors: 
Virginia Cooter
Originator: 
Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation