Standards
Science – SC.5.P.10.4
Investigate and describe some basic forms of energy, including chemical, electrical, electromagnetic, heat, light, mechanical, nuclear,solar, and sound energy.
Science – SC.5.P.11.1
Investigate and illustrate the fact that the flow of electricity requires a closed circuit (a complete loop).
Mathematics – MAFS.5.NBT.2.7
Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value,properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used.
Big Idea(s)
Electric circuits provide a pathway where electrons can flow through. We rely on the electricity that is produced in closed circuits for several energy transformations to take place.
Energy Transformations:
- Car
- Chemical Energy to Mechanical Energy
- Sewing Machine
- Electrical Energy to Mechanical Energy
- Lamp
- Electrical Energy to Light Energy
- Radio
- Electrical Energy to Sound Energy
- Blender
- Electrical Energy to Mechanical Energy
- Blow Dyer
- Electrical Energy to Heat Energy
Essential Questions
- How can electric circuits help transform electricity to heat, light,mechanical or sound energy?
- How does a battery transform to other forms of energy?
Vocabulary
Motion • Electricity • Electrical Circuit • Electrons • Transformation • Open Circuit • Closed Circuit • Electric Current • Series Circuit • Parallel Circuit • Kinetic Energy • Potential Energy • Electrical Energy • Thermal Energy • Mechanical Energy • Electromagnetic • Sound Energy • Chemical Energy
Background Information
When energy changes from one form to another, an energy transformation takes place. Every minute of the day, millions of energy transformations occur around the world. There are many different forms of energy such as electrical, thermal, nuclear, mechanical, electromagnetic, sound, and chemical energy. Due to the law of conservation of energy we know that energy is always conserved in the universe and simply changes from one form to another.
Guiding Questions
- How does energy affect the motion of an object?
- How do electrical charges react to other electrical charges?
- Why does a circuit need to be closed in order to complete the flow of electricity?
- How does one form of energy transform into another form of energy?
- What are some ways that you use energy every day? Of these, which are examples of energy transformations.
Instructional Sequence
- Introduction to Energy Transformations – Video: Energy Transfers and Transformations Animation
- Science Activity – Lesson – Energy Transformations Lesson
- Science Lesson – Lesson – Chemical Energy: Glow Stick Lab
Math Mania
The United States imports roughly half of its petroleum from other countries. The average import is 11.75 million barrels per day. Based on this, how many barrels of petroleum would the U.S. import during the month of July?
The answer is:
364.25 million
Fun Facts
Did you know…
- America burns nearly half of the world’s gasoline.
- Lighting currently accounts for about 20% of U.S. electricity consumption.
- If a person yelled for 8 years, 7 months, and 6 days, he or she would produce enough energy to heat one cup of coffee.
Inquiry Type
- Structured Inquiry/Class – Video: Energy Transfers and Transformations Animation
- Controlled Inquiry/Pairs – Lesson – Energy Transformations Lesson
- Controlled Inquiry/Small Groups – Lesson – Chemical Energy: Glow Stick Lab