Selected Online Resources for Teaching about Alternative Energy

May 11, 2012 - The topics covered begin with energy basics and extend to alternative energy, including solar energy, fuel cells, wind energy, and biom...
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Selected Online Resources for Teaching about Alternative Energy Lynn Diener* Sciences Department, Mount Mary College, Milwaukee Wisconsin 53222-4597, United States ABSTRACT: A collection of energy-related online resources is presented. The topics covered begin with energy basics and extend to alternative energy, including solar energy, fuel cells, wind energy, and biomass energy. Links to the resources are included. KEYWORDS: First-Year Undergraduate/General, High School/Introductory Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Internet/Web-Based Learning, Electrolytic/Galvanic Cells/Potentials

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s consumers pay more at the pump while worrying about climate change, alternative energy is a timely topic for a chemistry classroom. Instructors will likely find that students are interested in this topic, especially if these students drive a car or pay to fuel it. This piece highlights some of the online resources available to help students learn about alternative energy, focusing first on teaching about energy, then on alternative energy sources, with particular attention on hydrogen fuel cells and biomass.

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ENERGY BASICS Instructors may want to start by talking about what is meant by “energy”. A plethora of Web sites are devoted to energy basics. A good one that provides a general overview of energy and work is the Iowa Public Television Web site.1 This engaging Web site is broken down to make it easy to read; the text of the Web site is fragmented into small and easily digestible bits, with images sprinkled throughout. The Web site also includes timelines showing the progression of how and when different energy types have been used. For example, nuclear energy use starts with Marie and Pierre Curie’s discovery of radium and polonium in 1898. This timeline provides a useful introduction to discussing nuclear technology as an energy source and as a weapon, highlighting important U.S. policies on these subjects. A more formal approach can be found in ChemPRIME, a textbook offered by the Chemical Education Digital Library (Figure 1).2 Chapter 15, “Thermodynamics: Atoms, Molecules and Energy” is a nice place to start. ChemPRIME is an online, wiki textbook; the CoreChem is the basic textbook material. With a variety of images, videos, and Jmol molecules embedded in the text, students will get a comprehensive look at energy. A unique feature of ChemPRIME is the exemplars. Exemplars give students the option to learn about basic chemistry content in the context of another field. For example, students may be more interested in learning about thermodynamics as it relates to food or biology. ChemPRIME allows students to explore the chemistry content in the context of a topic they may find more engaging and personally relevant. Many of the exemplars are currently empty, but this could be taken as an opportunity to engage students. Students could be asked to create an exemplar to share with others. For students in elementary and middle school, Energy Kids by the U.S. Energy Information Administration is a useful Web © 2012 American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc.

Figure 1. The ChemPRIME Web site home page. You can access the different chapters on the right side of the screen. Image used with permission.

site (Figure 2).3 In addition to presenting a lot of helpful information about the basics of energy, energy sources, and

Figure 2. U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Energy Kids Web site.3 The Energy Ant symbol is a registered service mark of the U.S. Department of Energy and is used with permission.

using energy, a variety of games and activities are also available, including energy-related sodoku and crossword puzzles. Many experiments are described, some of which could be done in class or used as science fair projects. More basic energy information, presented in a highly interactive manner, can be found on the Energy Quest Web site presented by the California Energy Commission.4 This Web site presents energy basics, another timeline, movies, and more games. The jigsaw Published: May 11, 2012 950

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gives a thorough overview of each alternative energy source, highlighting the benefits and drawbacks. The Energy Hog Web site presents energy conservation as a topic.10 The Energy Hog Web site has an adult site and a student site, with the adult site offering information on conserving energy, as well as resources for educators, and the student site featuring games galore. It is interactive, fun, and educational. For example, students can search rooms in a house for the energy hog. Once they have located an energy hog, they are transported to a new game that helps them combat the energy hog. For instance, one game traverses a maze to change out old energy inefficient light bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs.

puzzles are engaging, but computers need to have Flash installed to enjoy them. Students will have fun creating tracks on Earth and in outer space using the Energy Skate Park offered by PhET.5 Available as a free download, students can learn about conservation of energy using this interactive Java applet. Students build skateboard tracks, and control the speed and starting point of the skateboarder. Students can also view graphs of potential and kinetic energy, discovering how these graphs change as the skater moves. If students enjoy building tracks on Earth, they will have even more fun building a track in outer space. For a collection of energy images created as part of a collaboration between the science and art department at Mount Mary College, see ref 6. Figure 3 is an example of one of these images.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Though not exactly a new technology, fuel cells are currently a hot topic. The technology is generating much interest because it is a form of clean technology that produces water as its waste product. Another exciting thing about this technology is the number of chemistry concepts covered. Some of the following Web sites may help instructors teach about this topic in class. HowStuffWorks has a nice overview of the technology, including chemical half reactions.11 The article discusses the basics of fuel cells, specific types of fuel cells, and even talks about fuel-cell efficiency. Students may also appreciate a video from this Web site that shows how fuel cells work. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has a great Web site all about fuel cells.12 The Smithsonian site discusses the history of fuel cells and gives students an overview of the different types, as well as a basic introduction to fuel cells. The Public Broadcasting Service’s NovaBeta Web site13 gives an informative selection of videos, an interactive fuel cell car, and an expert question and answer section. If students ask to see a real car that actually uses fuel cell technology, they can view Honda’s Web site for the FCX Clarity.14 It is true that this Web site is basically an advertisement for the car, but students can still benefit from seeing the chemistry applied. This Journal has a wonderful classroom activity by Tamez and Yu that allows students to create their own aluminum−air battery.15 While it is not a hydrogen fuel cell, instructors can easily connect the concepts students learn making their aluminum−air battery to the concepts of hydrogen fuel cells. Access is free with a subscription.

Figure 3. Solar Power, created by Shoua Lee and reproduced with permission. When asked to briefly describe this work, Lee wrote: “The sun emits energy to the earth constantly, even if we do not see it. Therefore, I want to portray the radiating beams of energy from the sun.”

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ALTERNATIVE ENERGY Many Web sites are dedicated to alternative energy in all its forms, including solar, wind, geothermal, and so forth. The U.S. Department of Energy has an informative and comprehensive Web site, describing everything from energy sources to national security.7 Recent, relevant news related to energy use and consumption is available on this site, along with pages for educators and students. The educator page links to a variety of useful resources, helping instructors to unearth lesson plans and activities. It also links back to Energy Kids,3 which presents resources on alternative energy, in addition to their resources on energy basics. It is worthwhile to check out Alternative Energy.8 Instructors and students can browse current energy news and the news archives by category. There is also a forum where students can participate in virtual discussions with the general public about alternative energy. One caution is that this site has integrated advertising, so instructors may want to check it out first or avoid it. The six-and-a-half-minute video clip from the Teachers Domain outlines a variety of energy sources: topics such as solar, geothermal, nuclear, hydrogen fuel cells, and biomass are covered.9 The video discusses the importance of energy in the future and in meeting the world’s growing energy needs. It

Biomass Fuels

Biomass fuels are becoming more and more prevalent today. Fuel options at the pump now include gasoline with ethanol supplementation, and it is not uncommon to follow a car on the highway whose emissions smell suspiciously like french fries. The Bioenergy Feedstock Information Network16 has a thorough biomass energy overview. It also has a variety of resources available, including fact sheets, journal articles, and databases. The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Services Web site also has a variety of useful resources.17 For instance, this Web site has links to success stories, stories of states and municipalities that have switched from petroleumbased fuels to biodiesel fuels for public transportation. The Web site also has links to curricula, primarily presentations for use in a classroom. Instructors may want to carefully research these presentations; one of them references Wikipedia, which may be a concern for some instructors. To delve a little more deeply into the chemistry of biodiesel, the blog from Chemical and Engineering News18 is useful. The Web site is fairly technical but still not too difficult to read; it is appropriate for college-level students. The Biofuel Systems 951

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(13) Public Broadcasting Service. NovaBeta: How Fuel Cells Work. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/fuel-cell-work.html (accessed May 2012). (14) Honda Web page on the FCX Clarity fuel cell electric car. http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/ (accessed May 2012). (15) Tamez, M.; Yu, J. H. Aluminum−Air Battery. J. Chem. Educ. 2007, 84 (12), 1936A−1936B. (16) Bioenergy Feedstock Information Network. https://bioenergy. ornl.gov/ (accessed May 2012). (17) National Sustainable Agriculture Information Services. Biodiesel. http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/farm_energy/biodiesel.html (accessed May 2012). (18) Engelhaupt. E. Biodiesel Chemistry 101. C&EN Meeting Weblog: Dispatches from Brazil. Posted online 29 May 2007. http:// cenbrazil.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/biodiesel-chemistry-101/ (accessed May 2012). (19) Biodiesel Information. Biofuel Systems Group LTD. http:// www.biofuelsystems.com/biodiesel/information.htm (accessed May 2012). (20) Public Broadcasting Service. NovaBeta: From Pond Scum to Power. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/algae-biodiesel.html (accessed May 2012). (21) The Teachers Domain. The Biomass Balancing Act. http:// www.teachersdomain.org/resource/psu06-e21.sci.biomass/ (accessed May 2012). (22) Biomass English Language Page at the Italian Energy Web site, EniScuola.net. http://www.eniscuola.net/en/energy/contenuti/ biomass/ (accessed May 2012). (23) American Chemical Society Website. Chemists Celebrate Earth Day. http://portal.acs.org/portal/PublicWebSite/education/outreach/ cced/ (accessed May 2012).

Group LTD also has some interesting information about the chemistry of biodiesel, along with instructions to make biodiesel fuel.19 It might be tempting to make biodiesel in class; remember that although biodiesel is not dangerous, the needed reagents to make it are. NovaBeta once again provides useful resources on their Web site.20 The Web site hosts an interactive animation, From Pond Scum to Power. The animation is a great way to teach students about using algae for biofuel production; it is clear and easy to understand. NovaBeta has a number of other resources on biofuels as well, from a question and answer section to videos that are easily found on the site. Finally, the Teacher’s Domain provides both a lesson plan and a video that can be used together.21 The lesson plan has students research biomass as a possible alternative energy to use in their community. Though aimed at a middle school audience, this could be easily adapted to the high school level. The link in Part II: Web Investigations, An International Energy Research Foundation educational Web site is broken: the correct link for that site on biomass is included in this citation list.22 Instructors may also like to explore the American Chemical Society’s, Chemists Celebrate Earth Day Web page.23 The topic for Earth Day 2011 was Energy, It is Everywhere! Instructors are sure to find a variety of resources to support lessons on energy at this Web site. With the resources identified here, perhaps the energy flow in class will increase and some blossoming chemists may discover a passion for alternative energy.

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AUTHOR INFORMATION

Corresponding Author

*E-mail: [email protected].

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REFERENCES

(1) Iowa Public Television. Explore More: The Future of Energy. http://www.iptv.org/exploremore/energy/Energy_In_Depth/e_ indepth.cfm (accessed May 2012). (2) Vitz, E.; Moore, J. W. ChemPRIME. Thermodynamics: Atoms, Molecules and Energy. http://wiki.chemprime.chemeddl.org/index. php/Thermodynamics:_Atoms,_Molecules_and_Energy (accessed May 2012). (3) U.S. Energy Information Administration. Energy Kids. http:// www.eia.doe.gov/kids/index.cfm (accessed May 2012). (4) California Energy Commission. Energy Quest. http:// energyquest.ca.gov/index.html (accessed May 2012). (5) Adams, W.; Dubson, M.; Loeblein, T.; Perkins, K.; Reid, S.; Wieman, C.; Harlow, D. PhET. Energy Skate Park. http://phet. colorado.edu/en/simulation/energy-skate-park (accessed May 2012). (6) Mount Mary College. Fine Arts in the News. http://www. mtmary.edu/fineart_news.htm (accessed May 2012). (7) U.S. Department of Energy. http://www.energy.gov/ (accessed May 2012). (8) Alternative Energy. http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/ (accessed May 2012). (9) Teachers Domain. Energy Sources Video. http://www. teachersdomain.org/resource/phy03.sci.ess.earthsys.energysource/ (accessed May 2012). (10) Energy Hog. http://energyhog.org/ (accessed May 2012). (11) Nice, K.; Strickland, J. How Fuel Cells Work entry at HowStuffWorks. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/ alternative-fuels/fuel-cell.htm (accessed May 2012). (12) Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Collecting the History of Fuel Cells. http://americanhistory.si.edu/fuelcells/ index.htm (accessed May 2012). 952

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