Introduction
Our last class, we visited the Museum of Science to learn about alternative energy beyond the classroom. We visited four exhibits, all linked to energy production and consumption. We learned the technical and statistical aspects of wind and solar production, and got a better idea of their contribution in the grid. We also compared these renewables with all sources of energy. Finally we looked at efficient energy consumption, and what it looks like on a household level. These four exhibits each helped to expand our perspective on energy production and consumption in a different manner.
Catching the Wind
This exhibit was about the efficient harnessing of the wind to generate electric power. Using a visual representation, the exhibit illustrates the mechanics of transforming wind motion into energy. The diagram disassembles the standard wind turbine so the inner workings can be observed, and each parts function is explained. Some interesting parts that I was not aware of are things like the yaw
motors, which turn the blades of the turbine towards the directions of the wind in order to maximize efficiency. This exhibit also shows the different designs of wind turbines, and classifies them with respect to their output efficiency. The most efficient design of course is the commonly observed straight bladed turbine called “Proven 6”. Other designs however include the skystream, the AVX1000, and windspire, which all vary greatly in their design.
Energized!
Energized is an exhibit focused on the problem of limited resources of fossil fuels. These resources will eventually run out, so this exhibit aims to educate people on the pros and cons of alternative energy sources. The exhibit also goes in depth in the renewables such as solar energy, and the science of energy storage. We looked at an interactive part of the exhibit that let us shine light at different angles on a solar panel. The exhibit recorded
the output, and it showed us that a direct angle is the most efficient angle for solar panels. Another interesting part of the exhibit was the magnetic flywheel. This device is one attempting to solve a very big problem with renewable energy production, and that is energy storage. The energy storage device is produced by Beacon Power Corporation in Massachusetts. This device can compensate for fluctuations in energy demand by receiving excess electricity to convert it into mechanical energy. This is why the vessel has a large spinning wheel component. When demand is high, the spinning wheel can act as a generator and provide the additional output.
Conserve At Home
This part of the museum was about how to reduce energy demand per household by making reasonably easy measures in your lifestyle. The most interesting and interactive part of this exhibit was the light-bulb comparison. The exhibit allowed visitors to try to power three different lightbulbs using a hand crank generator. The first light, LED, is an 8 watt, and it can light up its surroundings with a few easy cranks of the wheel. The incandescent on the other hand is listed as a 40 watt, and this lightbulb barely glows no matter how fast you try to crank the generator. This stark difference gives everyone a common perspective on how much energy certain lightbulbs can conserve, making this a very good part of the exhibit. The exhibit included other informative sections on domestic conservation, such as how to reduce the amount of trash we produce by simply recycling. The exhibit stated that without recycling, we produce and average of 4.4 lbs of trash per person per day. After recycling, we produce 2.9 lbs of trash per person per day. This is a very solid difference to show people the value of separating their recyclables.
Investigate!
This exhibit allows for the visitors to act as scientists themselves. There are several experiments that are set up to demonstrate laws of motion. I used the motion tracker. The motion tracker shows your position versus time on a graph. As you walk along the pad, sensors track your position, and records it. On the graph, the actual slope of the line tells the visitor his speed of motion at different times. The other experiment we observed was one concerning the acceleration due to gravity, or g. It is known that on all objects, g is constant regardless of mass. The only thing that impedes g is air resistance. So, our experiment dropped a ball with a larger mass and a ball with a smaller mass from the same height, at the exact same time. We expected them to hit the bottom at the exact same time, but in fact the larger ball hit an instant before the lighter ball. This proved that in our atmosphere, air resistance is a factor and can not be negligible in an object’s acceleration due to gravity.
Conclusion
I think these exhibits are a good review and a good addition to what we have covered in class. There is a large kid demographic for the museum, so having interactive exhibits are a great idea for teaching the next generation about the importance of alternative energy, and energy efficiency. As for students and adults, the exhibits still provide very informative data. I am glad the museum brings attention to the issues of energy research and efficiency.