Carbon Emissions: Pardon My Carbon!
What kind of decisions do we make when choosing transportation?Copyright 2022 ppokta, Public Domain, freesvg.org
Introduce students to the concepts of climate change and how cars can contribute to it. In this activity, students work together to understand how various forms of transportation have costs and benefits, and which modes of transportation are better for the environment by making decisions for a commuter.
Understanding the negative impact gas-powered cars have on the environment is key to designing cars that produce little to none carbon emissions. Chemical engineers develop and test new car batteries, electrical engineers design the electrical circuitry to charge the battery and distribute the electricity from the battery to the electric motor. Mechanical engineers design, develop, and test electric motors, transmissions, drivetrains, steering systems, and more. Many electric vehicles are made of newer materials that are lighter and stronger and may incorporate environmentally-friendly materials, which materials engineers develop, process, and test.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe the greenhouse effect.
- Recall the role carbon dioxide plays in the greenhouse effect.
- Recognize how transportation can affect the greenhouse effect.