LessonGrades 7 - 8
Generators: Three Mile Island vs. Hoover Dam
Hydroelectric turbines at the Hoover Power Plant.Copyright U.S. Department of the Interior
Students are given a history of electricity and its development into the modern age—an energy lifeline upon which our society so depends. A range of methods of electrical power generation are introduced—turbines, hydroelectric, steam, fuel cells, solar power and wind power—along with further discussion of each technology's pros and cons.
Understanding energy issues is an important part of engineering, as is the ability to clearly explain technological concepts in terms suitable for one's audience.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Describe important discoveries leading to electricity.
- Name different sources of power generation and how they work.
- List the pros and cons of each method of power generation.