Climate Change and Cars (3-5)
How much carbon to cars send into the atmosphere?Copyright 2020 NOVA, Public Broadcasting Service
This lesson introduces students to the concepts of climate change and how cars can contribute to climate change. Students learn the basics of the greenhouse effect and the carbon cycle. They also learn how transportation affects our atmosphere. Students work together to understand how various forms of transportation have costs and benefits, and which modes of transportation are better for the environment.
Understanding the negative impact gas-powered cars have on the environment is key to designing cars that produce little to no 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 lesson, 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.