​Lesson Questions........

1) How do humans use energy?

2) How is ELECTRICITY PRODUCED?

Lesson Objectives

​I CAN.........

• Describe how humans use energy

What It Takes to Make Things Happen:
Humans and Energy

​Take a minute to think about the following.........

1) What is the energy source for the furnace that warms your home or school?


2) What fuels drive the engines of vehicles from motor schooters to rockets?

3) What is the source of the electricity that we take for granted each time we turn on lights, computers, microwaves, or air conditioning?

4) What fuel keeps your physical body moving and your mind processing information for the duration of the school day?

5) What powers your mobile phone?

​Energy..........................

Energy is required to perform work!

Humans use a lot of energy.

Through human history, we have continually expanded what we want to do and sought new energy sources to do it.

" Once you've got a solar panel on a roof, energy is free. Once we convert our entire electricity grid to green and renewable energy, the cost of living goes down." 

What is the ULTIMATE ENERGY SOURCE?

​THE SUN......

The nearly inexhaustible energy of the sun has long powered this planet - from algae or grass, to the fish or animals that eat them, to the carnivores at the top of the food chain.

Harvesting SOLAR ENERGY more directly for human use has proven more challenging; however, technological advances have made solar energy more efficient and less costly.

Population growth, development, and advances in technology.........

​PRESENT DAY........

Our global energy appetite increases alongside population growth, development, and advances in technology. The nonrenewable fuels upon which we currently rely will eventually be spent.

How will we fuel our future?

There are opportunities in renewables other than solar, such a the wind, the tides, biofuels, innovative uses for trash or biomass byproducts, and underground heat.

How do we turn these into usable energy?