M4.

Lab: Different Energy Forms

Part 1:
1. List specific examples of non-renewable energy sources.
Fossil fuels, gas, minerals, and other commodities that are easily depleted and cannot be
replaced in our lives must be created over the course of millions of years. The non-renewable
energy sources that we use in our daily lives are illustrated below.

 Oil
 Coal
 Nuclear energy
 Natural gas

2. Explain what makes an energy source non-renewable.

Natural energy resources that require years to replace and resupply are regarded as non-
renewable. Like fossil fuels, they come from the remains of marine plants and animals that died
millions of years ago. However, they cannot be used in a cycle and are consumed more quickly
than they can be regenerated.

3. Describe the main types of fossil fuels and how they formed.
Fossil fuels, which are abundant in carbon and hydrogen and are created by the decomposition
of dead plants and animals beneath the crust of the earth, are a source of energy when burned.
Natural gas, coal, and oil are typical types of fossil fuels.

 Natural gas: It can be dug out from between sedimentary rock pores that are above oil
deposits. Methane makes up the gas.
 Coal: Found in deposits of sedimentary rocks where decomposing animals and plants
are stacked up in layers, this layer forms solid layers. They are typically found inside
mines.
 Oil: Solid matter found between shales, it is heated to form thick oil, which is used to
make petroleum, gasoline, and other products.

4. Explain the environmental impacts associated with exploration, extraction and use of
the different types of fossil fuels.
Carbons burn during combustion, releasing a significant amount of carbon dioxide (greenhouse
gas) into the atmosphere. This gas affects temperature, contributes to global warming, and
warms the entire world. One of the biggest issues brought on by the digging, scraping, and
mining of coal is land degradation.
Extraction processes pollute the air and water, and drilling for oil and gas is a filthy industry that
has a negative impact on the environment by causing rapid changes in the climate and
ecosystems.

5. Explain nuclear energy, how it works, its benefits and risks.

Nuclear energy is defined as energy created by nuclear reactions like fission reactions. It can be
created through nuclear fusion, nuclear fission, and nuclear decay processes.
Uranium atoms are divided, and the energy released from this process creates heat and steam,
both of which are used to generate electricity using turbine-based generators.
Compared to energy produced from fossil fuels, nuclear energy production is clean because it
does not impact the environment, the climate, or the air. The world’s two deadliest nuclear
disasters, Chornobyl and Fukushima, and the disposal of nuclear waste are some reasons
atomic energy is still debatable. Nuclear waste can leak hazardous radiation into the
environment.

Part 2:
Title:
This lab requires you to produce a lab report that explains three types of energy forms and their
uses in real-life.
Introduction:
Energy comes in many different forms. Examples of these energies include light energy, heat
energy, mechanical energy, gravitational energy, electrical energy, sound energy, chemical
energy, nuclear or atomic energy, and so forth. Any type may be alerted or changed into
another.
Although it is true that there are many types of energy, the two most prevalent are kinetic
energy and potential energy.
Chemical energy:
Chemical energy is the energy stored in the bonds of chemical substances (atoms and
molecules). Chemical energy is released during a chemical reaction, most frequently in the form
of heat. By burning fuels like coal and wood, for instance, we can use the chemical energy
contained therein.
Electrical energy:
Electrical energy is the force that moving electrons in an electric conductor carry. One of the
most popular and useful types of energy is this one. A great illustration is lightning. Other types
of energy can also be transformed into electric energy. For instance, through a series of
changes, power plants turn the chemical energy stored in fuels like coal into electricity.
Mechanical energy:
Mechanical energy is the energy that a substance or system has as a result of its motion.
Mechanical energy, for instance, is used to power machines.
Thermal energy:
Thermal energy or the energy of moving or vibrating molecules, is the energy that a substance
or system contains in relation to its temperature. For instance, we prepare meals using solar
radiation.
Nuclear energy:
Each atom has an energy that is stored as nuclear energy. Nuclear energy can be produced
through fusion, the joining of atoms, or fission, the division of atoms. The fission process is the
one that is most frequently used. The most crucial row material is uranium. Mines for uranium
are located all over the world. In order to obtain enriched uranium, a radioactive isotope, it is
processed into tiny pellets. Long rods with these pellets put into them are placed into the
reactor of the power plant. Inside the reactor of an atomic power plant, uranium atoms are
broken apart in a regulated chain reaction. There are two further fissile materials: thorium and
plutonium. Particles created by atom splitting clash with and divide other uranium atoms in a
chain reaction.
Since the beginning of time, humans have relied on the resources of the earth to survive and
produce energy. The regeneration process for some energy sources takes longer than for
others.
Resources that produce energy come in two varieties: renewable and non-renewable. Between
the two types of sources, there are three key differences:

 Availability and renewable times

 Cost of manufacturing and delivery
 Environmental and human health implications
Renewable and non-renewable energy:
Renewable energy sources are sourced from natural resources and continually regenerate,
effectively extending their supply. This group includes the following things:
Examples of renewable energy sources include solar energy, wind power, geothermal energy,
hydropower, and biomass.
These sources provide significant advantages for both human health and the environment due
to their little negative effects on the environment.
On the other hand, nonrenewable energy sources need more resources to replenish after use
because they deplete. They thus contribute to pollution and have a substantial impact on the
environment. Actually, the production of nonrenewable energy releases harmful chemicals and
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Nuclear and fossil fuels are the two main kinds of non-renewable energy sources, respectively,
while renewable energy sources are totally classified as non-diminishing natural resources. Let
us examine their manufacturing processes and the environmental impact of their products.

Experimental details:
With the aid of several sources, we produced three different types of energy in this experiment.
Solar panels and generators are the primary means of converting energy from one source to
another.
Experiment #1:
We used humans as our primary source of energy, a running bicycle is coupled to a generator,
which is powered only by human effort. Energy from the generator was turned into light
energy.

Experiment #2:
In this experiment, the sun served as our primary energy source, a natural, renewable source.
Solar panels continuously collect solar energy, which is subsequently used to generate
electricity. The fact that solar panels depend on sustainable natural energy sources gives them
an advantage over generators.

Experiment #3:
This time, however, electrical energy is further transformed into mechanical energy using a
solar panel and the sun.

Results:
Experiment 1 uses a generator that is powered by mechanical energy to produce light and
thermal energy. Chemical energy stored in the human body is the source of mechanical energy.
This experiment has the potential to produce useful energy, but it needs a source of chemical
or biological energy to operate. The cyclist eventually became fatigued and needed enough
energy to keep producing energy after a while.
Both experiments 2 and 3 generate electrical energy that can be converted, respectively, into
thermal energy and mechanical energy. The benefit of using solar panels and the sun as an
energy source is that it is renewable and constant, but subject to variation owing to weather
conditions such as clouds, rain, etc. Additionally, solar panels have the capacity to store energy
and can be utilized to generate power even when the sun is not shining.
Discussion:
We can draw the conclusion that renewable resources have an advantage over non-renewable
resources using these experimental models. These experiments can also be used in daily life.
People have been shown to be moving to install solar panels in recent years. In businesses,
workplaces, and even homes. Solar panels are now often used. Additionally, they can aid in
preserving global warming and reining in greenhouse gas production. They offer the finest
substitute for energy generated by fossil fuels. Pully-based or turbine-based generators are also
utilized, but only in a few locations because they cannot store energy and need a constant
supply of feed or nutrients to function. Gas-powered generators are one of the examples of
daily life; they need gas to generate energy.
Due to its abundance, renewable energy is increasingly being used to meet the world’s energy
needs. Additionally, using renewable energy benefits the environment in several ways, such as
lowering pollution and global warming’s negative effects. Despite the drawbacks of energy,
there are reasons to believe that problems will be resolved soon because of the government’s
significant investment and experts’ efforts. A favorable turning point for us is when we exploit
and transform conventional energy sources into renewable energy sources. A better future is
paved with alternative energy.

References:
1. UKEssays. (November 2018). Advantages and Disadvantages of Renewable Energy Resources.
Retrieved from
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/environmental-sciences/advantagesrenewable-energy-
resources-environmental-sciences-essay.php?vref=1
2. Vikaspedia domains. https://vikaspedia.in/energy/energy-basics/forms-of-energy(accessed
Mar 8, 2022)
3. Kopp, Otto C. Fossil fuels, Britannica, June 2021.
https://www.britannica.com/science/fossilfuel/additional-info#history
4. 7 ways oil and gas drilling is bad for the environment, The Wilderness Society, July 2021.
https://www.wilderness.org/articles/blog/7-ways-oil-and-gas-drilling-bad-environment
5. Fossil fuels, National Geographic Society.
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/fossil-fuels/
6. The hidden costs of fossil fuels, Union of concerned scientists, July 2008.
https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/hidden-costs-fossil-fuels#:~:text=Extraction%20processes
%20can%20generate%20air,toxins%20and%20global%20warming%20emissions.