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Grd-7-NS-T3-2018-approved (1)
Grd-7-NS-T3-2018-approved (1)
Contents
Topic 1 A and B: Potential and Kinetic Energy .................................................................... 3
Sources of energy ............................................................................................................ 3
Renewable and Non-renewable sources of energy ...................................................... 3
What is Kinetic Energy?................................................................................................ 3
Different types of potential energy .................................................................................... 4
Elastic potential energy................................................................................................. 4
Activity 1 ....................................................................................................................... 5
Potential energy in food ................................................................................................ 5
Activity 2 ....................................................................................................................... 6
Write down the energy values of types of food. ............................................................ 6
Energy is needed to make everything work, move or live ................................................ 6
Sources of energy ............................................................................................................ 6
Topic 2: Non- renewable energy sources ............................................................................ 7
Fossil fuels ....................................................................................................................... 7
Coal .................................................................................................................................. 8
Oil and gas ....................................................................................................................... 8
Interesting Fact ............................................................................................................. 9
Energy from nuclear fuels ................................................................................................ 9
Facts about Uranium ...................................................................................................... 10
Activity 3 ..................................................................................................................... 10
Topic 3: Renewable sources of energy .............................................................................. 11
Hydro (water) energy...................................................................................................... 11
Wind energy ................................................................................................................... 11
Solar energy ................................................................................................................... 12
Bio-fuel ........................................................................................................................... 12
Activity 4 ..................................................................................................................... 13
Topic 4: Law of Conservation & Energy Transfers – Conduction, Convection, Radiation. . 13
LAW OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY ...................................................................... 13
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Energy works in a system. Energy can be transferred in the system, but the total amount
of energy will remain the same. This is known as the Law of Conservation of energy.
Energy can be in the form of potential or kinetic energy. There are different types of
energy, such as heat, electrical and light energy. Energy can change from one type to
another, such as, when we switch on an oven, electrical energy goes into the oven through
the element and changes into heat energy when the oven is warm.
Sources of energy
Renewable and Non-renewable sources of energy
The word ‘work’ is used to describe a number of different activities. When you sit down at
home to do your homework, you can say that you are ‘working’. When a person leaves
their house in the morning, they might say that they are ‘going to work’. But, in a scientific
context, ‘work’ has a very precise meaning. The mother, in Figure 1, is pushing the trolley.
In a scientific sense, she is ‘working’ the trolley. In other words, when you push or pull
something and make it move you are doing ‘work’ on that specific thing.
Figure 1
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in boiling water (also called heat energy). Sometimes you cannot see the movement
caused by kinetic energy, but you will notice a change in the object.
The elastic band now has potential energy. Stretch it a little more. The elastic band now
has more potential energy. As you keep stretching it, the potential energy increases.
When you release the elastic band, it no longer has potential energy. However, the
energy is not lost; it has simply been converted into another type of energy. Anything that
can be stretched, squeezed (like a rubber ball) or wound up (like the spring of a jack in a
box) has elastic potential energy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1VoK0Ga36w
Use this link to connect to an interesting experiment using potential energy
with elastic bands and a watermelon.
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Activity 1
Answer these questions in your book:
By law, a food can only be labelled as “low in energy” if it contains than 170 kJ per 100g
(solid foods) or 80 kJ per 100 ml (liquids). A food can only be labelled as “high in energy” if
it contains more than 950 kJ per 100g or 250 kJ per 100 ml.
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Activity 2
Write down the energy values of types of food.
1. Write down the energy values in kJ per 100 g of solid foods or per 100 ml of liquid of at
least five different types of food. Examine the labels on foods that you have at home. Look
at cereal boxes, milk bottles, fruit juice bottles, tinned foods, sweets, chocolates. Try to
find a wide range of foods for this activity (carbohydrates, proteins, fruits and vegetables,
fats and oils, and even junk foods like crisps and fizzy drinks).
2. Draw up a list, and categorise the foods in your sample, of the types of food and their
energy content, ranked from highest to lowest. Compare it with other learners’ lists in the
next lesson. Which food has the highest energy content?
Now that you have an understanding of what is meant by ‘work’ let’s examine what is
meant by the word ‘energy’? Energy is what is needed to do work – to make things move,
to make things change and to make things grow or stay alive.
Sources of energy
We call something a ‘source of energy’ when that object or substance has stored energy
that is (dormant/sleeping). Usually, something has to be done to the ‘source of energy’ for
it to release the energy (make something happen). For example, coal is a ‘source of
energy’ because it has energy that is waiting to be used. Its energy is only released when
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it is heated enough for it to burn. It then releases energy in the form of heat and light.
Stored energy is called potential energy.
The Sun contains stored energy as well - energy is stored in the hydrogen gas that makes
up most of the Sun. This energy is constantly being changed into heat and light energy in
a reaction that changes hydrogen into helium. We use helium in hot air balloons and party
balloons.
Fossil fuels
Fossil fuels are things such as coal, oil and natural gas. Oil and gas supply about one half
of the world’s energy needs and coal supplies about a quarter. More than half the coal in
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the world is burnt to produce electricity. A fossil fuel is a non-renewable source of energy.
It has been formed over millions of years and cannot be replenished (replaced).
Coal
Millions of years ago, the plants in swamps absorbed energy from the sun. As these plants
died, sand rock and other substances covered the remains of the dead plants. Over
millions of years, the weight of the substances lying on the dead matter created pressure
that compressed the substances. A substance called peat was formed as a result of this
pressure. The peat was then pushed towards the hot centre of the Earth and this heat
changed the peat into fossil fuels. The compression process on plant matter resulted in
coal being formed. (The compression of other substances resulted in the formation of
fossil fuels such as natural gas and oil).
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refined to make petroleum (petrol) and diesel for vehicles and jet fuel for aeroplanes. It is
also used to make plastic products. Oil can be burnt to generate electricity.
Natural gas is pumped from underground and is then processed so that it can be used as
a fuel. Generally, people use gas bottles to store natural gas for use in the home. These
gas bottles are connected to lighting, heating and cooking equipment, which allows the
gas to be burnt. A Bunsen burner is connected to a natural gas source. Some countries
have a natural gas supply, which supplies natural gas directly to households. Natural gas
can also be used to generate electricity.
Interesting Fact
Vaseline is made from petroleum jelly (petrol jelly).
Nuclear energy does not cause air pollution, but the waste products are dangerous to
human, animal and plant life. At present, it is difficult to get rid of these waste products.
Nuclear power stations also need uranium, which must be mined. Uranium mining has a
similar environmental impact to gold mining. The fact that uranium is needed for nuclear
energy means that nuclear energy is non-renewable.
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Activity 3
Answer these questions in your books. Peer mark.
1. Explain why fossil fuels and nuclear fuels are regarded as non-renewable. (2)
2. What is a fossil fuel? (2)
3. Name three uses of fossil fuels. (3)
4. Explain, in a point-form list, how fossil fuels are formed. (5)
5. Give a basic explanation of how electricity is generated in a nuclear power station? (4)
6. Give the name of South Africa’s nuclear power station and say where it is located. (2)
7. Say whether you agree or disagree with this statement and explain your opinion: (2)
Nuclear power stations are more environmentally friendly than coal-fired power
stations. Total: 20
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Energy sources that are naturally restored or replaced, after we use them, are called
renewable sources of energy. These sources cause less or no pollution of the
atmosphere or environment than the use of non-renewable sources. Renewable sources
of energy are continually replenished. They include hydro power (water power), wind,
sunlight and bio-fuel such as wood.
A water turbine is made so that it turns when water runs through one side of it.
Wind energy
Different parts of the atmosphere have different temperatures. This causes air currents
(wind). People have used wind as a source of energy for a long time – a windmill is an
example of this type of energy generation.
Images of windmill
and wind turbines
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A wind turbine is similar to a propeller which turns when wind blows through it. It can be
connected to a generator to produce electricity.
Solar energy
Sunlight shining on a solar panel provides energy to push electric charge from one part of
the panel to another. Electricity can then flow through a battery to charge it. If there are
sufficient panels and batteries, enough energy can be generated to provide power for a
small house.
Heat from the Sun can also heat up water running through black
tubing on the roof of a house. The hot water is fed into a tank and
can then provide hot water for a household.
Bio-fuel
Liquid bio-fuel can be made from crops like maize and soya beans. These crops are
fermented so that the sugars in the crops turn into a substance called ethanol. Ethanol can
be used as a fuel for cars, on its own, or it can be added to petrol or diesel. Bio-fuel is
considered renewable because the supply of crops can be replenished by planting a new
crop each year.
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Activity 4
Answer the questions and choose a peer and mark each other’s work
1. What is a renewable source of energy? (1)
2. Give a definition of renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. (2)
3. Make a list of non-renewable energy sources and explain why they are regarded as
non-renewable. (3)
4. We rely on fossil fuels to supply most of our energy needs.
Explain why this is a problem. (2)
5. Give one disadvantage of relying on wind energy for electricity. (1)
6. What is hydropower? Explain. (1)
Total mark: 10
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In each system there is an input energy, one or more energy transfers and output energy.
A system is a set of parts that work together. Because a system is a set of parts working
together, a change to one part of the system can affect other parts of the system. In the
torch, the energy is transferred which turns into light.
To explain how energy is transferred in a system you need to answer these 3 important
questions:
• Where does the input energy come from? This refers to the potential energy that
start the energy transfer. The boy’s arms, legs and feet.
• Where does the energy go? From the boy’s legs into the feet and arms moving.
• What energy changes are observed in the system? The boy will start running slowly
and then run faster.
Examples:
A boy running … An archer shooting an arrow
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Thermal systems
Example: a candle heating cold water in a can, a cup of tea losing heat to the
surroundings.
Electrical systems
Example: a cell/ battery in a circuit can activate a motor, buzzer or a small torch bulb.
Biological systems
The energy being passed along a food chain.
Example: a horse eats a plant and can move or pull a cart.
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
Conduction
This is a form of heat transfer that occurs:
• between two objects when they are in direct physical contact where heat moves from
the hotter object to the cooler object or
• in one object where the heat moves from the hotter part of that object to a cooler part of
the same object.
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Convection
Convection is the transfer of heat by the movement of liquid or gas particles. When air is
heated, it moves up, and when it is cooled, it moves down. This creates the convection
currents. An example of convection is when you boil water in a kettle. The water will
slowly, heat up all the liquid and the kettle boils).
Radiation
Radiation carries heat across an empty space (therefore, it has no need for direct contact
for the heating of liquid and gas particles). The sun radiates heat across space to heat up
the earth. Radiated heat can be absorbed or reflected. Dark colours absorb heat whereas
light colours reflect it.
Look at the diagram on the next page. It shows convection currents in a room.
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• The air sinks because it is cool, but also because it is pushed by new hot air coming
from the fire place to heat up the earth. Radiated heat can be absorbed or reflected.
Dark colours absorb heat whereas light colours reflect it. The original air (now cool) is
pushed along the floor by the convection current.
• When the air reaches the fireplace, it warms it up again, expands, and rises. The
convection current continues until the room is heated evenly.
Activity 5
Answer the questions in your workbooks and ask a peer in your class to mark it
according to a given memo
1. Describe how heat is transferred by conduction. (3)
2. Explain how the heat is transferred from a hot stove to the food in a stainless steel pot.
3. What is convection? (2)
4. Explain how heat transfer by radiation occurs. (2)
5. Convection can occur in solids. True or False. Explain your answer. (2)
Explain why it is best to place heaters near the floor and why an air conditioner is best
placed near the ceiling. Draw and label a diagram to explain this. (4)
Total: 15
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Uses of insulators
Insulators are used in houses to minimise heat loss in winter or heat gain in summer. Poor
conductors, such as concrete and bricks, are normally used.
Insulating the ceiling of homes prevents the warm air from escaping through the roof of the
house. Foam can be sprayed above the ceilings in the roof structure or blanket insulation
can be rolled out.
Warm air can escape through cracks or gaps and cold air can enter the same way.
Repairs should always be done to conserve heat. Houses should also be built in a way to
allow the maximum amount of radiated heat from the sun to enter the home. In winter, the
corrugated iron will conduct the heat from inside the home, causing it to become colder.
Cooler boxes
A cooler box can be used to keep food cold.
Usually, an ice pack is frozen and placed in the
cooler box along with the food. The box has a
plastic inner wall and outer wall, separated by an
insulating material. This is usually foam with air
pockets. Styrofoam and plastic are good
insulators. Vacuum flasks work in the same way,
but they trap heat.
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Clothing
You keep warm by wearing “warm” clothing such as a woollen jersey. There is nothing
‘warm’ about a jersey. It is the same temperature as its surroundings. The jersey keeps
you warm by preventing the heat from escaping from your body. To prevent heat loss from
your body, during winter, you make use of coats and
jackets. Heat can be lost from our bodies and from
appliances such as electric geysers. Remember that
energy cannot really be lost, so when you hear the
term ‘heat loss’, you should understand that the heat
is lost from one object, but that it is transferred
somewhere else, often into the air surrounding the
object. Heat loss can occur through conduction,
convection and radiation.
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Activity 6
List the appliances and the input, output and wasted energy
List at least 4 appliances and give ways in which the energy is used correctly for the job
and what energy is created that is not needed. List the input, output and wasted energy.
For example, when I use a drill to make a hole in the wall I am using mechanical energy
BUT the more the drill goes in the wall the hotter the drill becomes. Obviously I do not
need heat to make the hole in the wall and therefore the energy wasted is in the form of
heat energy.
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Example
Drill…
Input – electrical energy →
Dynamos
Dynamos are small generators which convert mechanical
energy into electrical energy. This is useful when the
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appliance needs a small current, e.g. when a light on a bicycle gets charged by the
movement of the wheels or a machine for converting mechanical energy into electrical
energy, typically by means of rotating coils of copper wire in a magnetic field.
One way to save electricity is to install a solar geyser that can use
the Sun’s energy to heat water. These solar geyser heating
systems are usually placed on the roof of a house. The system
involves the transfer of heat from the Sun to the water in the
geyser by radiation, conduction and convection.
Look at the following websites to see how a solar geyser system works and look at
pictures and diagrams of solar systems:
www.science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green.../solar-water-heater.html
www.geogroup.co.za/.../fact_sheet_-_how_does_solar_water_heating_work.
Black tubes absorb the radiant heat from the Sun and conduct the heat to the water in the
tubes. Water, close to the upper surface of the tubes, is heated most. It expands and rises
up to the tube as shown in the figure 2. Cooler water from the tank sinks into a tube.
Convection current is set up with water circulating and getting warmer all the time.
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have promising careers in the power generation industry. Jobs include electricians,
boilermakers, fitters and maintenance personnel.
Activity 7
Answer the following questions in your workbook. Ask a peer, in your class, to mark
it for you, using a given memo
1. Explain why brick and concrete are good building materials to use when building a
house. (2)
2. Explain why spongy or foamy materials are good insulators of heat. (2)
3. How can a thick coat keep you warm on a cold day? (1)
4. Imagine you were building your own house. Name three things you could do to make
sure that the house gets plenty of solar heat. (3)
5. Explain why thatch is a good choice of building material. (1)
6. What could the people living in a corrugated iron house do to make the house warmer
in winter? (3)
7. What is a dynamo? (2)
8. Identify and describe at least 3 ways to conserve energy in your home, school or
community. (6)
9. Describe the structure of a turbine. (2)
10. What is the gas that rises from the cooling towers of a power station? (1)
11. Explain how this gas is formed. (2)
Total: 25
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