Most hydroelectric stations use the natural drop of a river, like waterfalls, rapids, or a dam built across a river to provide the change in height needed to produce kinetic energy (energy of movement).

• Water is collected in the reservoir, then channeled into a pipe called a penstock that carries the water down to the turbine.
• As the water flows down the penstock, the water pressure increases.
• This pressure causes the turbine to spin, which in turn spins a generator.

Hydroelectric plants produce almost no greenhouse gases (e.g., carbon dioxide) but construction may have required flooding of land and disruption of animal and human homes.

Wind turbines work much like hydroelectric stations. Instead of moving water, they use wind energy (energy of moving air) to create kinetic energy. Wind causes the turbine to spin, which is connected via gears to a generator. Wind turbines need to run a long time to produce electricity. In order produce large amounts of electricity, many wind turbines are required.

Wind turbines produce almost no greenhouse gases, but they require large amounts of land which can affect natural habitats.

Thermal generating stations use steam to spin their turbines. To create the steam, water is heated in boiler tubes that surround a large industrial furnace that burns coal, oil, or natural gas, depending on the type of generating station.

The steam is then transferred under pressure to the turbine, causing the turbine to spin and in turn, spin the generator.

The steam from the turbine condenses back to a liquid using cooling water from a lake, and is pumped back to the boiler, where it is reheated to continue the process.

Unlike other fuels, uranium is not burned. Uranium atoms release large amounts of heat through a process called fission (splitting of atoms).

Instead of burning coal, oil, or natural gas, Canada’s CANDU nuclear reactors use the fission of natural uranium (a radioactive metallic element) to convert nuclear energy (energy that holds the nucleus together in an atom) into kinetic energy.

In a CANDU reactor, the fission process heats up heavy water (water with hydrogen replaced by one of its isotopes called deuterium), which in turn heats up ordinary water in a boiler. The steam is piped over to the turbine hall, where it drives the huge turbine and generator that produces the electricity we use.

Nuclear plants produce almost no greenhouse gases, but it is still not clear how nuclear fuel disposal affects the environment.

A solar farm is a large collection of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels that absorb energy from the sun, convert it into electricity and send that electricity to a power grid for distribution.

The panels at solar farms are usually mounted to the ground instead of rooftops and come in all shapes and sizes. Large scale solar farms consist of hundreds of thousands of solar panels that absorb energy from the sun, generate an electric current, and distribute that power on high-voltage power lines.

The electricity travels along those power lines to an electricity grid, eventually making its way to homes.

Solar farms are expensive to set up, and difficult to change, or move, once created. Since they are dependent on sunlight, they can be unreliable in the amount of power generated over long periods of time. Recycling of solar panels is also limited.

An electrician is a skilled trades professional who specializes in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines, and different types of equipment. Electricians work to install new electrical parts and to fix and maintain existing electrical parts and systems. Some electricians might also have a background in wiring ships, airplanes, and cable lines.

What other jobs could there be which relate to power generation?

After Carl Benz completed the first gas-powered car, many innovations have been made to car design.

Self-starter:In 1911, the electric self-starter was invented and patented in 1915 by Charles Kettering. Before the electric engine starter motor was created, the engine had to be started by hand with a big crank which was quite physical and dangerous.

Materials: The materials for the body of the car were made of natural fibres. Modern cars are created using aluminum and plastics.

Safety: Seat belts, airbags and automatic locks have improved safety in all cars.

Electric power: Hybrid vehicles are a blend of internal combustion engines used in a gas-powered car, as well as electric power.

Electric vehicles work using electric power which is stored in batteries. Electric cars do not release any pollutants, but they do need to charge regularly at a charging station in order to work.

Over time, diesel engines replaced steam to power trains. Railroads have developed technologies that allow them to transport passengers over long distances at much higher speeds than the original steam engine.

In addition, there are high-speed trains in some parts of Europe and East Asia where passengers can reach far destinations in a few hours.

Description

Using a car on average emits one-hundred-and-seventy grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre per person. Using a bus on average emits one-hundred-and-eighteen grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre per person. Using a train on average emits forty-five grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre per person. Walking or biking emits zero grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre per person.

Fossil fuels and coal are burned to generate electricity and to power many modern trains. This process releases chemicals and toxins into the atmosphere. These harmful chemicals are breathed in by humans and animals and are harmful to their health over long periods of time.

An automotive technician is a skilled trades professional who fixes, examines, and works to maintain vehicles. They perform inspections, identifying any area that requires repairs, running tests and replacing any damaged or old parts. They must have a strong understanding of vehicle and road safety rules and record each step they take to complete repairs.

What other jobs can you think of in the area of transportation?

The modern phone is very different from Alexander Graham Bell’s early telephone. They are telephones but they also have many of the capabilities of a computer. Mobile phones (cell phones) have been innovated to provide entertainment, as well as multiple forms of communication through calls, texts, emails and other messaging platforms.

To create a mobile phone:

• Raw materials are extracted from the earth to create each part of a mobile phone. These materials such as crude oil and copper are processed to create plastic parts, fiberglass sheets and copper wiring. The processes of extracting raw materials from the earth and making those materials into usable parts for the cell phone can release pollutants into the air which affect humans, animals and the environment.
• Next, plastics and fiberglass are used to create the circuit board base while the circuit and wires are made using copper and added with glues and a protective coating.
• Phone screens are manufactured by creating layers of liquid crystal between layers of glass or plastic. Batteries are made from different types of metals.

Telecommunication systems include the telephone wires, cables, satellites, mobile technology etc. which allow us to send messages using electricity. While early technology telecommunication systems included telegraphs, telephones and radio, modern telecommunication systems include telephone, radio, television, computers, internet etc.

Line workers are skilled trades professionals who install or repair electrical power systems and telecommunication cables. This can involve:

• inspecting and testing power lines
• stringing power lines between poles towers and buildings
• operating power equipment when installing and fixing poles, towers and lines
• laying underground cable
• installing aerial (overhead) cables over lakes and across rivers
• setting up service for customers

What other jobs might there be in the area of telecommunications?