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Listed under:  Science  >  Forces and energy  >  Energy use  >  Renewable energy
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Sciencey: Five things you should know about renewable energy

Check out how we make electricity, the different renewable energy sources we have developed and how batteries work. Then, find out about hydro-electricity and why Australia could one day be the world’s biggest exporter of renewable energy. Lastly, discover virtual power plants. Why is it important to focus on renewable ...

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Foreign Correspondent: Dams and dolphins on the Mekong?

If the Lao Government's plans are realised, nine hydropower dams will be built across the Mekong River in Laos, and more across its tributaries. The government wants the country to become the 'battery of Asia'. With this dream comes a host of issues. Listen to reasons why the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) suggests hydro-dam ...

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Quantum: Tidal power

Journey to Bathurst Island where strong tidal currents can be found in the Apsley Strait. Observe how the Nguiu community is investigating the use of tidal power to provide their electricity needs instead of using non-renewable and expensive fossil fuels.

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Elliot and the Surfing Scientist: Hydrogen and its properties

Imagine the possibilities if we could turn the most abundant element in the universe into a source of fuel. Watch as the Surfing Scientist, Ruben Meerman, investigates the properties of hydrogen and then demonstrates its potential as a fuel when he sets fire to hydrogen-filled soap bubbles.

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Working towards a renewable energy future

Listen to electrical engineering student Kulsoom Hussain describe her dream career. What are some of the challenges she says she'll face in trying to achieve her goals? What can you find out about the energy sources used in Australia? How much renewable energy is used to power our country?

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Energy: renewable and non-renewable resources

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of using renewable and non-renewable energy resources. This PowerPoint presentation, with accompanying teacher notes, outlines the characteristics of a range of renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. It describes the positives and negatives of using renewable energy sources ...

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Uses of mineral sands

Find out what minerals can be found in beach sands and why they are important to us. This is a PowerPoint presentation about sand minerals and the products derived from them. It deals with the origin and deposition of the mineral deposits, the properties of the minerals zircon, rutile and ilmenite and their uses as well ...

Online

Low-emission energy technologies: an introduction

This is a teaching unit, designed for year 10, aimed at engaging students in investigations about low-emission energy sources. A unit outline, teacher guidelines, student activity and an assessment task are provided.

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All about hydrogen

This is a fact sheet providing information on how we produce hydrogen from fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. The uses of hydrogen are briefly discussed and information is provided about hydrogen fuel cells.

Video

Low-emission energy future

Find out about the technologies that can reduce our greenhouse-gas emissions. This resource consists of an animated video accompanied by an interactive landscape activity. The video focuses on technologies that can reduce carbon-dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, as well as renewable energy and improved ...

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The USGS Water Science School

This resource is a website with extensive information about water, including the water cycle, water properties, surface water and groundwater, droughts, floods and tsunamis, and water quality. It also includes a section on hydroelectricity. There is an emphasis on data from the USA. The resource includes a photo gallery, ...

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Coal and its uses

Find out where we get the coal that powers our homes and industries. This is a PowerPoint presentation outlining how coal is formed, mined, processed and used. All slides contain images or maps. Teachers' notes are included.

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Renewable sources of energy

This is a worksheet consisting of a blank data table designed for students to record information resulting from their research into renewable energy resources. It specifies the types of energy resources to be investigated and suggests topics for research focus.

Interactive

Energy chains: energy use

Select energy sources and energy converters to build energy chains to power appliances and vehicles. Examine how each energy converter in a chain loses some energy and reduces the energy available for use. For example, show that using a solar panel and an electric motor to drive a car delivers only 16% of the original ...

Interactive

Energy chains: make electricity

Build up to six energy chains that make electricity. Select from different energy sources and choose energy converters to match. Examine the type of energy change that happens in each converter. Arrange the converters into the correct chain so that the energy can be delivered as electricity. For example, construct a chain ...

Online

Climate change and the environment - a unit of work

This unit of work for upper primary students encourages them to consider the effects of climate change on the environment, to take action to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to educate others to do the same. An introductory exploration of the concept of climate change is followed by three further activities framed ...

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Living off-grid

This set of learning activities challenges students to create simple, environmentally sustainable solutions that generate energy and produce clean drinking water for living off-grid. Students design and build their solutions as examples of ways to provide these essential services in a developing country, in a developed ...