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Project Summary
| Difficulty | 6 – 10 |
| Time required | Long (a couple of weeks) to Very Long (several weeks to months) |
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| * Note: This is an abbreviated project idea, without notes to start your background research or a procedure for how to do the experiment. You can identify abbreviated project ideas by the asterisk at the end of the title. If you want a project idea with full instructions, please pick one without an asterisk. |
Abstract
Coal, gas, and oil are energy resources that are not renewable, meaning that once we use up the world's supply of these natural resources there will not be any left. There is a lot of debate about how long these resources will last. One way to ensure that we will not find ourselves in an energy crisis is to develop energy resources that are renewable. Renewable energy is a resource that cannot be used up. Investigate the many uses of renewable energy: solar energy, wind energy, hydroelectricity, ethanol, etc. How much energy does a solar cell produce? Can you build a wind vane? Try inventing new energy free devices using gyroscopes or cranks, like the popular beach hand crank radio. Try making your own biodiesel. What ideas do you have? (NREL, 2006)Bibliography
NREL, 2006. "National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Innovation for Our Energy Future," Golden, CO: NREL, U.S. Dept. of Energy. [accessed: 3/1/2006] http://www.nrel.gov/.Variations
- For more science project ideas in this area of science, see Energy & Power Project Ideas.
Last edit date: 2007-01-11 18:56:37
Career Focus
If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring careers in Energy & Power.
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Nuclear Engineer Nuclear engineers harness the power of the atom to help solve large and difficult problems facing humanity. They design power plants that create energy to power homes and businesses without producing greenhouse gases. They develop machines that image the human body and destroy cancer cells, sterilize food and medical equipment, and create new pest or drought-resistant seeds. They work to make the world a better place. |
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Power Distributors and Dispatcher Think of all the things in your home or school that use electricity, like the lights, TV, refrigerator, washer, microwave, music players, computer, and electronic devices. Now think of how you feel when the power goes out, even for just a moment. Power plant distributors and dispatchers have an important job—they work to keep electricity flowing to homes and businesses by carefully watching and planning for problems like big storms that could damage transmission lines, heat waves that cause a big surge in demand for power, or normal construction work, which could take transmission lines out of service. | |
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Power Plant Operator No matter what time of the day or night, or what the weather is like, power plant operators work to ensure that homes and businesses have a reliable source of power. They switch the plant generators on and off, as needed, and monitor and maintain generators, turbines, and pumps to prevent failures. |
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Nuclear Power Reactor Operator One in five United States homes and businesses is powered by nuclear power, and nuclear power reactor operators are the people who ensure that those reactors are operating safely and efficiently at all times. They monitor all equipment continuously, and implement procedures if malfunctions are observed. They also control and adjust the amount of power being generated, and the reactor coolant temperature as power demands change through the day and during weather events, like heat waves. | |
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