Activity 1.2.2 Energy Distribution - Resources
Purpose
Have you ever considered where the electricity or natural gas that arrives at yourhome and other buildings comes from? Electricity and natural gas in the distributiongrid is like several pipes contributing water to a pond. You might get water out of thepond, but once it is all mixed together, there is no way to know which pipe the watercame from. You could measure the flow at each pipe and determine the percentageof water a specific pipe provides, but it is all still water in the pond. Energy that is inserted in the power distribution grid comes from several sources.
Have you ever considered where the electricity or natural gas that arrives at yourhome and other buildings comes from? Electricity and natural gas in the distributiongrid is like several pipes contributing water to a pond. You might get water out of thepond, but once it is all mixed together, there is no way to know which pipe the watercame from. You could measure the flow at each pipe and determine the percentageof water a specific pipe provides, but it is all still water in the pond. Energy that is inserted in the power distribution grid comes from several sources.
Conclusion Questions
1. What is the name of the utility company that you visited, the location, and the person or persons that gave the tour and provided information?
Our virtual field trip went around the world with Bill Nye as our tour host.
2. What sources provide energy to the utility?
Oil, Coal, Wind, Water, Uranium, and Hydrogen are all sources that provide energy to utilities.
3. What are the systems used to step down energy so that it can safely be delivered to a home or other building for use?
Systems such as dams and power plants use turbines and generators to generate electricity along with any other components, which then transfer the energy to our power grid which uses an enormous system of wires.
4. What systems are used to ensure that energy forms can travel long distances?
The U.S.' power grid uses a huge length of wires to transfer energy all across the U.S.
5. What kinds of energy are produced closest to where you live?
North Carolina produces electricity through nuclear power plants, along with fossil fuel (of course), and solar power is harnessed as well.
6. What are some inexhaustible resources available in your area that can be utilized to procure energy?
North Carolina is ripe for an efficient solar power harnessing state.
7. Do you think customers should be able to choose how their energy is produced, even if it means that they may need to pay more for the energy they choose?Defend your answer.
I do believe that customers should have the right to choose how their energy is produced when it is fit for the state's and country's needs. If, or more-so when, our country needs to initiate a nationwide plan to reduce our carbon footprint, I do believe then that electric generation should be regulated according to Federal terms.
1. What is the name of the utility company that you visited, the location, and the person or persons that gave the tour and provided information?
Our virtual field trip went around the world with Bill Nye as our tour host.
2. What sources provide energy to the utility?
Oil, Coal, Wind, Water, Uranium, and Hydrogen are all sources that provide energy to utilities.
3. What are the systems used to step down energy so that it can safely be delivered to a home or other building for use?
Systems such as dams and power plants use turbines and generators to generate electricity along with any other components, which then transfer the energy to our power grid which uses an enormous system of wires.
4. What systems are used to ensure that energy forms can travel long distances?
The U.S.' power grid uses a huge length of wires to transfer energy all across the U.S.
5. What kinds of energy are produced closest to where you live?
North Carolina produces electricity through nuclear power plants, along with fossil fuel (of course), and solar power is harnessed as well.
6. What are some inexhaustible resources available in your area that can be utilized to procure energy?
North Carolina is ripe for an efficient solar power harnessing state.
7. Do you think customers should be able to choose how their energy is produced, even if it means that they may need to pay more for the energy they choose?Defend your answer.
I do believe that customers should have the right to choose how their energy is produced when it is fit for the state's and country's needs. If, or more-so when, our country needs to initiate a nationwide plan to reduce our carbon footprint, I do believe then that electric generation should be regulated according to Federal terms.