To make the forms of energy contained in nuclear, renewable and fossil energy sources available to people, this energy must be converted to a different form, such as electric energy (electric current). Of the energy sources shown here, nuclear energy, renewable and fossil energy sources and geothermal and solar thermal energy cannot be converted directly to electric energy. Therefore, a series of conversion steps must be carried out. The last two steps are to convert thermal energy to mechanical energy in the turbine and to convert mechanical energy to electric energy in the generator.
Water and wind power can drive a generator directly, and photovoltaic power generates electric energy directly.

Information and ideas:
An excellent choice for illustrating the law of conservation of energy. The fact that energy cannot be produced, but only converted, is not self-evident to students.

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Chemistry; Physics; Technology

Grade 5 to 6; Grade 7 to 9; Grade 10 to 13

Middle/high school; Vocational training

Chart; Ecology; Energy; Environmental protection; Nuclear power plant; Power generation; Renewable energy; Ecology (environmental protection); Electric power generation; Energy conversion; Fossil fuel; Graphics; Nuclear energy; Primary energy; Renewable energy; Secondary energy; Source of energy

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MediaHouse GmbH using material from: Von I, Dergenaue, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2526016 (Generator; license: CC BY-SA 3.0), Von de:User:Igelball - first upload: July 27, 2003 - de:Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70192 (Gas tank; license: CC BY-SA 3.0)

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