Physics·General Physics · NSSCO 2.10.1-2.10.3
Energy sources, renewables & energy conversion
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Energy powers everything around us — but where does it come from, and what happens to it? In this lesson we meet the six major sources of energy, sort them into renewable and non-renewable, weigh up their advantages and disadvantages, and discover why Namibia's sunshine is a world-class treasure. Then we follow energy as it changes form, and meet the grand rule that ties it all together: the principle of conservation of energy.
What you'll learn in this lesson
By the end you should be able to (NSSCO Physics 2.10.1-2.10.3):
- Outline the major sources of energy: chemical/fuel, potential energy from water (hydro, waves, tides), geothermal, nuclear fission, solar and wind
- Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different energy sources, including environmental considerations
- Distinguish between renewable sources (solar, hydro, geothermal, wind) and finite non-renewable sources (oil, coal, nuclear)
- Discuss radioactive isotopes as the source of nuclear energy, its conversion to electricity and the problems involved
- Explain how renewable energy is used in Namibia, and appreciate Namibia's world-class solar potential (second-highest irradiance, after Chile)
- Describe a basic solar PV system, a basic solar water heater and a basic wind system, stating the energy changes involved
- Give examples of energy in different forms and its conversion, and apply the principle of conservation of energy to simple examples such as a pendulum
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