The way we generate electricity today may affect the way that future generations will be able to generate electricity. The way we consume electricity directly affects how much we need to generate. Generating electricity also affects the environment. Generating and consuming electricity in an ethical and sustainable way will ensure that both the energy needs and environmental needs of the future can be met.
Activity Look through this list of electrical appliances. Tick the ones that you use every day. Highlight any appliance you could do without.
18. Games console 19. Satellite box 20. MP3 player 21. Computer 22. Tablet
23. Immersion water heater 24. Radio
We use electricity to light and heat our homes and to run electronic devices. Electricity is generated in many ways including: In a power plant that burns fossil fuels. In nuclear power plants. By wind turbines on a wind farm.
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These are explored in more detail in Chapter 41: Energy Sources.
LO 8 Physical World strand LO 10 Chemical World strand LO 6 Nature of Science strand
By solar panels on the roof of a house or in solar farms. In hydroelectric power plants. In geothermal power plants.