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Module 34

Science and Health

HOW ELECTRICAL ENERGY IS PRODUCED

A DepEd-BEAM Distance Learning Program supported by the Australian Agency for International Development
 To the Learner

Hello kids!!!
We have learned from our previous module that rubbing can
produce static electricity. However, it does not last long.
There are other ways of producing electricity. One is by moving a
magnetic field, and the other is by electrochemical propagation.

Let’s Learn This

When you finish this lesson, you will be able to describe how
electrical energy is produced.

Almost any form of energy can be converted into electricity. The

most common is from the battery which you did and learned earlier.

Another common method is through generators. Most generators

convert heat energy from burning fuel into electrical energy. Some
generators make sure of natural resources such as sunlight, water falls,
and wind to obtain electrical energy.

Developed countries like America, Japan, Germany, France and

others produce electricity from nuclear energy. Radioactive fuel like
uranium releases a great amount of nuclear energy. This is
transformed to heat energy then to mechanical energy and finally to
electricity.

In developing countries hydroelectric power plants make use of

falling water from dam in order to produce electricity.

Solar energy can also be changed into electrical energy. Solar

cells convert light into electricity. Much of the Sun’s energy reaches
the Earth as light, and solar cells can be used to convert this energy
into electricity, which can then be used to power and homes!

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 Let’s Try This

Encircle all materials that produce electricity.

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 Let’s Study This

Magnetism is the force produced by the motion of electrons in

the atoms of certain materials which are called magnets. Magnetic

force may also be produced by ordinary electric current, flowing

though the coil of wire called an electromagnet. The magnetic force

may cause attraction or repulsion that is, it may pull objects together

or push them apart.

Chemical energy maybe used to produce electric current. When

two different metals like zinc and copper are placed in diluted sulfuric

acid are connected by a wire, electric current is produced. The

combination forms the electrolyte cell. An electrolyte cell has two

different metals in a solution. Electrolyte cells do not store electricity

but change stored chemical energy to electrical energy.

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 Let’s Do This

ACTIVITY 1

How electrical energy is produced by moving a magnetic field.

You need:

1 strong magnet
1 cardboard tube
1 flashlight bulb

Do these:

1. Wind the wire around a small cardboard tube 50 or more turns.

2. Hold the coil on the tube wall with a tape. But leave the long
ends of the coil free.
3. Scrap the insulation of the very ends of the coil wire.
4. Connect the ends of the wire to the flashlight bulb to make a
closed circuit. Observe.
5. Stick one end of the magnet inside the coil and pull it out
quickly. Observe.
6. Do step 5 again.
7. Answer these.
a. Does the bulb light when the circuit is closed? Why?
b. Does the bulb light when the magnet is inserted inside the
coil?
c. Do the coil and magnet produce electricity?
d. What device uses coils and magnet to produce electricity?

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 Activity 2

How electrical energy is produced by electrochemical

propagation.

What you need:

Voltmeter
Strip of zinc and copper
No. 18 insulated copper wire
Sulfuric acid ( diluted 1:20 )
Strip of zinc and copper
Small jar

Do these:

1. Wrap one end of a length of wire around the zinc strip and one
around a copper strip.
2. Connect the free end of the wire to the terminal of a voltmeter.
3. Now place the copper and zinc electrodes some distance apart
in a clean jar which has been partially filled with sulfuric acid.
Observe.
4. Disconnect one wire from the voltmeter. Observe.

Answer These:

a. As soon as both electrolytes are immersed in the diluted

sulfuric acid what happened to the needle of the voltmeter?
What does it indicate?
b. What do you observe on the copper electrodes?
c. What happens when you disconnect one wire from the
voltmeter?

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 Let’s Do More

A. Fill in the blanks with the correct terms to complete the paragraph.
Select your answers from the box.

Metals Wire Electrolytic cell

Diluted sulfuric acid Electric current

Chemical energy maybe used and produced ( 1 ) when two different

(2) are placed in a ( 3 ) and are connected by a (4 ) this setup is called
the ( 5 ).

B. Multiple choice. Circle the letter of the correct answer.

1. which device generates electricity from mechanical energy.

a. generation c. transformer
b. solar cell d. storage battery

2. The amount of electric current produced by a generator depends

upon the
a. number of turns in the coil
b. strength of the magnetic field force
c. speed with which the coil moves
d. all of the above

3. The kind of current produced by a generator is called.

a. alternating current c. High voltage
b. direct current d. Low voltage

4. The electric current flowing through the wire produces.

a. sound c. heat
b. motion d. friction

5. Which of the following heating appliances produce the most heat?

a. electric stove c. hair dryer
b. electric fan d. water heater

Score: it’s great!!!

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 Let’s Remember This

Electricity is the energy of electrons flowing through

conductors like copper wires and aluminum wire.

Let’s Test Ourselves

Underline the letter of the correct answer.

1. What heating element is found inside the flashlight bulb?

a. Alloy b. Nichrome c. Tungsten

2. What is expended by the electric current in order to overcome

resistance?
a. Energy b. Force c. Mass

3. Which of these is encountered by the electric current while

flowing through a conductor?
a. Effort b. Force c. Resistance

4. How can the resistance of heating wires be increased?

a. by making it thin and short
b. by making it long big
c. by winding it into a coil
d. by making it thick but short

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5. Which of the household heating devices produces both heat and
light?
a. Flatiron b. Electric stove c. Electric water
heater

Science Fact File

Did you know…

That the current supplied in

homes and business is called alternating

current. Alternating current is

represented as the number of cycle per

second or hertz.

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 Answer Key

Let’s Try This

1 6 11
2 7 12

3 8 13

4 9 14
5 15
10

Let’s Do More
A. 1. electric current 4. wire
2. metals 5. electrolytic cell
3. diluted sulfuric acid

B. 1. A 4. C
2. D 5. D
3. A

Let’s Test Ourselves

1. C
2. A
3. C
4. A
5. B
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