LESSON 2: What's the Deal with Oil?Time: 45-90 minutes
Lesson Overview
One of the most important ways to improve fuel efficiency and eco-friendliness is to improve fuel itself. Alternative energy sources that produce more energy and emit fewer pollutants than gasoline will likely be a major factor in improving vehicle design by the year 2020. In Lesson 2, students will conduct research to discover the specific kinds of alternative energy sources that may be available in 2020 and to determine which of these alternative sources will be most efficient for their vehicles to use.
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:- Distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.
- Identify the advantages of alternative energy sources over fossil fuels.
- Compare and contrast alternative energy sources in terms of their efficiency and eco-friendliness.
Lesson Essential Questions
1. What are nonrenewable energy sources?
2. Why should we use alternative energy sources rather than fossil fuels?
3. What are some alternative energy sources, and how are they different from each other?
Videos & Interactives
Video Segment Are Electric Cars Sluggish? Jamie, Adam, and young scientist Brandon formulate an experiment to test whether electric cars are more sluggish than gas-powered vehicles.
Video Segment Racing Electric and Gas-powered Go-karts Adam pits an electric go-kart versus a gas-powered ride to see which one is faster.
Video Segment Problems Associated with Our Dependence on Fossil Fuels Fossil fuels and other nonrenewable resources are limited and disappear as they are used. They also pollute. The burning of fossil fuels causes the greenhouse effect, in which too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes too much radiant energy to be trapped. As the greenhouse effect continues, global warming may increase to the point that conditions in some places become too dry to support plants. Acid rain can harm plants, fish, and structures made of limestone and marble.
Downloads
Standards Addressed in G6-8 (PDF) Comparing Gasoline and Alternative Fuel Use Worksheet (PDF) Comparing Alternative Fuels Worksheet (PDF)
Links
FuelEconomy.gov Find a Car Alternative Fuels Alternative and Advanced Fuels Electric Vehicles Alternative Fuels: Transportation Energy - Data Book (Table 2.3) Progressive Automotive X PRIZE Why Progressive?