Rocking on with hot rocks geothermal energy
Activities
1. Putting on your thinking hat to evaluate geothermal energy
Other activities
Geothermal Education Office (USA)
Geothermal energy curriculum – looks at different sources of energy with a focus on geothermal energy: its geology, history and uses. Includes a range of student activities including making a model geothermal steam engine, porosity of soil and rocks, generating electricity and modelling the layers of the Earth.
Energy for keeps: Electricity from renewable energy (The California Study Inc., USA)
Chapter 2 - Going for a spin and Getting current – students make a model steam turbine and investigate how different energy sources can be used to rotate it. They then use a magnet to generate electricity.
Chapter 3 - Watt's my line? – students demonstrate their understanding of different energy resources (including geothermal) for electricity generation through presentations and pantomime (note: resources need to be provided for student research).
US Department of Energy (USA)
Geothermal energy – provides background information on geothermal technology and five related classroom activities on heat transfer, boiling points, geothermal emissions and turbine design.
Science upd8 (UK)
Hot rocks – students look at the relationship between geology and geothermal energy, and how geothermal power stations might affect local communities.
Want to receive updates? Click here to receive NOVA email
alerts.
External sites are not endorsed by the
Australian Academy of Science.
Posted July 2009, edited August 2012.