Coal As Energy

Coal is widely used for electricity production. It is a relatively cheap energy source, and it makes up for approximately 25% of the electricity generation in the US. However, in Kentucky, coal makes up 75% of the electricity generation.

Coal is used in many different ways. Most coal is combusted or burned at a power plant to make electricity. At the power plant, the coal is burned to create steam. The force of the steam causes turbines, large wheels, to turn. The motion created in the turbine causes magnets and copper inside the generator to spin, creating an electrical spark. Electrical energy can then travel to homes, businesses, and schools, via power lines.

Make A Turbine - Coal as Energy Activity

Turbines are machines with blades that spin to create kinetic energy or motion energy. Windmills, waterwheels, and turbines all similarly use the force of motion to do work. People have used turbines throughout history, in modern times we use turbines to generate electricity. Turbines can be used in many types of electrical generation, but in coal power plants, turbines spin to help create electricity to power our communities.

In this activity, we are going to make a turbine. Once you have the turbine created, try to see if you can make it spin with water, wind, or even steam from a kettle. Make sure to ask for help with the steam from a kettle. That can get very hot!

Materials Needed:

  • aluminum pie pan or paper plate

  • small cup or jar

  • marker

  • scissors

  • paper clip

  • paper straw

  • nail

  • masking tape

  • pencil

  • ruler

Procedure:

  1. Gather all the materials.

  2. Place the small jar in the center of the pie plate and trace the bottom. This will create a no-cut area for the blades.

  3. Measure the sides of the pie plate and create a center point with the marker.

  4. Using the ruler, draw dotted lines to create a map of where to cut to make the blades. Remember not to go inside the inner circle you drew earlier. You will be drawing lines across the middle like you were cutting pie or pizza.

  5. Cut off the edge of the pie plate. Be very careful or ask an adult to help with this part because the edges can be sharp.

  6. Cut along each dotted line until you end up with eight equal blades.

  7. Use a nail to poke a hole in the center point. Then use a pencil to widen the hole.

  8. Cut a 1" and 1/2" piece of straw.

  9. Open the paper clip until it is straight.

  10. Insert it into the piece of straw. Bend one end up and the other down.

  11. Insert the straw into the center point of the turbine.

  12. Bend each blade slightly in the same direction, creating a space for air to flow through the blades.

  13. Tape a pencil onto the side of the paper clip that is pointing down.

  14. Try it out! Will it spin if you blow on it? Will it spin from a blow dryer or fan? Can water push the turbine around? With help from an adult, see if steam from a kettle will spin the turbine.

Gather materials: aluminum pie plate, small jar, marker, ruler, scissors, nail, straw, paper clip, pencil, and tape.

Place a small jar in the center of the pie plate and trace the bottom.

Create a center point. From there draw a dotted line from the edge of the plate to the circle in the middle. Do NOT go inside the circle.

Repeat until you have eight equal sections in the pie pan.

Cut off the outside edge of the pan pan.

Cut each line until the center circle. You will have eight equal sized blades.

Use a nail to poke a hole through the center point of the turbine. Carefully widen the hole with a pencil.

Cut a 1"and 1/2" section off of the straw.

Open the paper clip and put it through the section of straw.

Bend a short section of the paper clip up, and the longer section down.

Insert the straw and paper clip into the center point of the turbine. It should fit snugly.

Finally, tape the pencil onto the longer section of the paper clip. Try you turbine. Does it spin? See if various sources of wind, water, or steam will turn your turbine.