Energy Activities
Investigate energy transformations, renewable energy systems, and conservation principles through hands-on experiments and Caribbean energy applications.
Activity 1: Caribbean Renewable Energy Systems Investigation
Design and test renewable energy systems suitable for Caribbean island environments
Learning Objectives
- • Design renewable energy systems for island communities
- • Investigate energy conversion efficiency
- • Analyze factors affecting energy production
- • Evaluate environmental impacts of energy systems
- • Calculate energy costs and benefits
Energy System Components
- • Small solar panels and photovoltaic cells
- • Wind turbine construction materials
- • LED lights and small motors
- • Batteries and capacitors
- • Multimeters and measurement tools
- • Construction materials (wood, plastic)
Design Process
Energy Assessment (25 minutes)
Analyze Caribbean energy resources and community needs
System Design and Construction (50 minutes)
Build and optimize renewable energy prototypes
Performance Testing (35 minutes)
Measure efficiency and analyze optimization strategies
Caribbean Energy Resources
- • Solar: 300+ days of sunshine annually
- • Wind: Trade winds 15-25 mph
- • Geothermal: Volcanic island potential
- • Ocean: Wave and tidal energy
Energy System Design Challenges
Solar Power System
- • Optimize panel angle for latitude
- • Design battery storage system
- • Calculate daily energy production
- • Account for weather variability
Wind Energy System
- • Design efficient turbine blades
- • Optimize for trade wind patterns
- • Consider hurricane resistance
- • Minimize noise and visual impact
Hybrid System Integration
- • Combine solar and wind sources
- • Design smart grid connections
- • Implement energy storage solutions
- • Create backup power systems
Energy Efficiency Analysis
Performance Metrics
- • Power output measurements (watts)
- • Energy conversion efficiency (%)
- • Cost per kilowatt-hour
- • Environmental impact assessment
Optimization Strategies
- • Maximum power point tracking
- • Load balancing techniques
- • Maintenance scheduling
- • System redundancy planning
Activity 2: Energy Conservation and Efficiency Laboratory
Investigate energy conservation principles through thermal dynamics and mechanical efficiency experiments
Learning Objectives
- • Investigate conservation of energy principles
- • Analyze energy transformations in mechanical systems
- • Measure thermal energy transfer rates
- • Calculate efficiency of energy conversion devices
- • Design energy-efficient solutions for Caribbean buildings
Laboratory Equipment
- • Pendulum apparatus and timing devices
- • Inclined planes and rolling objects
- • Calorimeters and thermometers
- • Insulation materials for testing
- • Spring scales and force meters
- • Data logging sensors
Investigation Protocol
Mechanical Energy Conservation (35 minutes)
Test pendulum and inclined plane energy transformations
Thermal Energy Transfer (35 minutes)
Investigate heat conduction, convection, and radiation
Building Efficiency Design (20 minutes)
Apply findings to Caribbean building design challenges
Energy Forms
- • Kinetic energy (motion)
- • Potential energy (position)
- • Thermal energy (heat)
- • Electrical energy (current)
Mechanical Energy Experiments
Pendulum Energy Analysis
- • Measure potential energy at maximum height
- • Calculate kinetic energy at bottom of swing
- • Analyze energy losses due to friction
- • Investigate period and amplitude relationships
Inclined Plane Investigation
- • Compare rolling vs. sliding objects
- • Measure work done against friction
- • Calculate mechanical advantage
- • Analyze efficiency of simple machines
Caribbean Building Efficiency Applications
Cooling Strategies
- • Natural ventilation design
- • Reflective roofing materials
- • Thermal mass optimization
- • Shade structure placement
Insulation Testing
- • Compare local vs. imported materials
- • Test coconut fiber insulation
- • Analyze bamboo thermal properties
- • Evaluate cost-effectiveness
Hurricane Resistance
- • Wind load calculations
- • Structural energy absorption
- • Emergency power systems
- • Rapid recovery designs