SOURCES OF ENERGY
1. What is Energy?
o Definition: Energy is the ability to do work or cause change.
o It's what makes things happen - from moving your body to powering cities.
o Reasoning: Just like money is needed to buy things, energy is needed to perform
actions.
2. Why Do We Need Energy?
o Definition: All living things and machines require energy to function.
Organisms: For growth, movement, staying alive (food = energy)
Systems: To operate (homes need power, cars need fuel)
o Example: Your body uses energy from food just like a TV uses electrical energy.
3. Energy Sources
o Definition: Anything that stores or produces energy (coal, sun, wind, food).
o Key Difference:
Renewable:
Examples: Sunlight, wind, flowing water
Why? Naturally replenished → won't run out
Non-renewable:
Examples: Coal, oil, natural gas
Why? Take millions of years to form → finite supply
4. Real-World Energy Use
o Home: Lights, fridge, AC → electricity
o Transport: Gas/diesel → motion
o Entertainment: PS5, drones → batteries/electricity
o Food: Calories → body fuel
5. Why the Renewables vs. Non-renewables Matter?
o Problem: Burning coal/oil pollutes and will eventually disappear.
o Solution: Sun/wind provide clean, endless energy → better for Earth.
2
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
Renewable Energy
(a) Renewable energy is the energy that does not run out or cannot be depleted when
used.
(b) Renewable energy comes from replenishable resources such as wind, solar, geothermal,
water and biomass.
Examples of renewable energies:
A. Wind Energy – Uses wind to spin turbine blades, which power a generator to produce
electricity. Wind is an endless, clean resource.
B. Solar Energy – Captures sunlight using solar panels, converting it into electricity. The Sun
provides a limitless energy supply.
C. Geothermal Energy – Harnesses heat from the Earth’s core to generate power. This heat is
naturally replenished and always available.
D. Hydropower – Generates electricity by using the movement of water (like rivers or dams)
to turn turbines.
E. Biomass Energy – Produces energy from organic materials like wood, crops, agricultural
waste, and even garbage. It can be burned or converted into biofuels.
3
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
Answer the following questions
1. What is energy?
A) Energy is the ability to do work and is needed by all organisms and systems
B) Energy is a type of matter that can be seen and touched directly
2. Why do organisms and systems need energy?
A) Organisms and systems need energy to power homes, fuel transport, and enable
entertainment devices
B) Organisms and systems need energy only to help them sleep and rest
3. Which statement best describes how we use energy in daily life?
A) Energy powers our homes, fuels transport, is in our food, and runs entertainment
devices
B) Energy is only used in factories and not in homes or for personal use
4. What is the definition of an energy source?
A) An energy source is something that stores or generates/produces energy
B) An energy source is something that uses up all available energy
5. What is the key difference between renewable and non-renewable energy?
A) Renewable energy can be used repeatedly while non-renewable energy cannot be
reused
B) Renewable energy is more expensive while non-renewable energy is always cheaper
6. Which of these correctly describes renewable energy?
A) Renewable energy comes from replenishable resources like wind, solar, and water
B) Renewable energy comes from sources that will disappear completely after use
7. How does wind energy generate electricity?
A) Wind generates electricity when it blows turbine blades that spin a generator
B) Wind generates electricity by being collected in large storage tanks
8. How does solar energy work to produce power?
A) Solar energy captures the Sun's energy using panels that convert sunlight to electricity
B) Solar energy works by burning sunlight to create steam for power generation
4
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
9. What is the source of geothermal energy?
A) Geothermal energy uses the Earth's internal heat that never runs out
B) Geothermal energy comes from burning rocks deep underground
10. What materials are used in biomass energy production?
A) Biomass energy uses organic materials like wood, crops, and agricultural waste
B) Biomass energy uses plastic and synthetic materials as fuel sources
Non-renewable Energy
(a) Non renewable energy is the energy that comes from sources that will run out or will
be replenished over time.
(b) These energies do not form at the rate they are used.
(c) Society mainly depends on these sources for energy.
(d) Non-renewable energy is mainly produced by fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and
petroleum.
Examples of non renewable energies
A. Fossil fuels – come from deposits of organic materials (dead plants and animals), e.g.
coal.
B. Crude oil – is unrefined yellowish-black fossil fuel used to make petroleum products
for our cars, seas and air transport. Crude oil is retrieved by drilling into the ocean
floor.
C. Natural gas – It is commonly methane and ethane drilled and pumped out of the
Earth’s crust.
D. Nuclear fuel – obtained from the breaking down (fission) of uranium to release
massive / huge energy.
Answer the following questions
1. What makes non-renewable energy different from renewable energy?
A) Non-renewable energy comes from sources that will run out or take too long to
replenish
B) Non-renewable energy comes from sources that never run out
2. Why don't non-renewable energy sources form quickly enough?
A) Because they don't form at the same rate they are being used by society
5
B) Because they form faster than we can use them
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
3. What does society mainly depend on for energy currently?
A) Society mainly depends on non-renewable sources like fossil fuels
B) Society mainly depends on renewable sources like solar and wind
4. What are the primary examples of non-renewable energy?
A) The primary examples are fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and petroleum
B) The primary examples are solar, wind and hydropower
5. Where do fossil fuels originally come from?
A) Fossil fuels come from deposits of ancient dead plants and animals
B) Fossil fuels come from recently living plants and animals
6. How is crude oil obtained for energy use?
A) Crude oil is retrieved by drilling into the ocean floor or earth's crust
B) Crude oil is collected from the surface of oceans and lakes
7. What is natural gas primarily composed of?
A) Natural gas is mainly methane and ethane pumped from underground
B) Natural gas is mainly carbon dioxide collected from the air
8. How is nuclear energy produced?
A) Nuclear energy comes from splitting uranium atoms in a process called fission
B) Nuclear energy comes from burning radioactive materials
9. Why are fossil fuels considered non-renewable?
A) Because they take millions of years to form but we use them very quickly
B) Because they are too expensive to extract from the ground
10. What is a major disadvantage of non-renewable energy?
A) A major disadvantage is that supplies will eventually run out
B) A major disadvantage is that they are too difficult to find
6
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
POTENTIAL ENERGY
1. Potential energy is energy held by an object due to its position or state (e.g.,
stretched, raised, or chemically form).
2. Where potential energy is stored:
o Elastic: Rubber bands, springs.
o Chemical: Food, fuels (petrol, wood), batteries.
o Gravitational: Objects at height (e.g., water in a dam).
3. The unit used to measure energy is joule (J).
4. Chemical potential energy in food and fuels is released when the fuel is burned or
the food is digested.
Example: A compressed spring has elastic PE; a burger has chemical PE.
Answer the following questions:
1. What is potential energy?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. List three possible sources of potential energy.
__________________________________________________________________________
3. What is the unit used to measure energy?
__________________________________________________________________________
7
4. Where do we find chemical potential energy?
Page
__________________________________________________________________________
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
5. Looking at the diagram A above, explain why when the ball bounces against the other balls,
one ball moves out.
__________________________________________________________________________
6. In the roller coaster, B, at what point does the roller coaster have more potential energy
and why?
__________________________________________________________________________
7. In diagram C, explain why the spring must be pushed back before the bullet is released.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
8. In diagram D, how do R1 and R5 compare?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
9. In diagram D, discuss which of the rubber bands will have more potential energy and which
ones will have less.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
10. In diagram B, at what position will the roller coaster be moving at its highest speed and
why?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
8
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
KINETIC ENERGY
1. What kinetic energy?
o Kinetic Energy is the energy of moving objects.
o Kinetic energy depends on the mass of an object and its speed.
2. Key Facts
o Kinetic energy only exists when an object is moving.
o The faster the object moves the more kinetic energy is has.
o Speed affects kinetic energy more than mass.
3. Examples of kinetic energy:
o Falling water or water fall
o Running athletes or people running doing sport.
o Racing cars, animals, moving train etc.
o Electric current
4. Connection of kinetic energy to other Systems:
o Thermal systems: Heat comes from moving particles.
o Biological systems: Oxen convert food energy (chemical energy) into motion
(kinetic energy) used to pull wagons.
Answer the following questions
1. What is kinetic energy?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Specify the type of objects that have kinetic energy.
9
__________________________________________________________________________
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
3. Give three different environments that demonstrate kinetic energy.
__________________________________________________________________________
4. What kind of energy conversion is taking place in the buzzer?
_______________________________________________________________________
5. What type of system is represented by the span of oxen? Explain how the system works in
this case.
__________________________________________________________________________
6. What type of system is represented by the heating of water?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
7. The table in the figure is a label from a food package. How much energy is in this food
package?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
8. Mechanical energy is the sum of potential and kinetic energy in an object. Discuss how the
waterfall represents mechanical energy.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
10
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
LAW OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
(a) The law of conservation energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed
but can be changed from one form to another.
(b) There is a transfer of energy when systems come together.
(c) Energy transfer is when energy changes from one form to another.
(d) The energy transfer can be mechanically like in a moving car.
(e) Electrical energy can be used to produce heat, light or sound.
(f) In the examples mentioned, electrical energy is changed from one form to another.
Answer the following questions:
1. What does the law of conservation of energy say?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
2. What is energy transfer?
__________________________________________________________________________
3. What are the two forms of energy conventions in a television?
__________________________________________________________________________
4. Discuss the energy conventions in a car.
__________________________________________________________________________
5. Discuss how a bulb is able to produce light.
__________________________________________________________________________
6. Discuss how an electric generator is able to produce electricity.
11
__________________________________________________________________________
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
HEATING AS A TRANSFER OF ENERGY
(a) During heating, energy moves from a hot to a cooler object.
(b) Energy transfer cannot happen if objects have the same temperature.
(c) Heat can be transferred by convection, radiation and conduction.
Conduction
(a) Heat conduction is the transfer of heat between objects that are in physical contact with
each other.
(b) Conduction can only take place between objects that are solid.
(c) Heat conduction is slower in poor conductors faster in good conductors .
(d) Materials that are good conductors of heat are suitable for use as cooking pots and
heating devices.
(e) Heat conduction happens during cooking, in hot beverages or drinks, etc.
(f) Materials that either slow down or prevent the conduction of heat are known as
insulators, e.g. wood and plastic.
(g) Plastic and wood are poor conductors of heat and are suitable to use as insulators.
Answer the following questions:
1. What is heat conduction?
A) The transfer of heat between objects that are in physical contact with each other
B) The transfer of heat through empty space without any medium
2. Between which types of objects can conduction occur?
A) Only between solid objects that are touching
B) Between any objects regardless of their state (solid, liquid, gas)
12
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
3. How does heat conduction compare in good and poor conductors?
A) Conduction is faster in good conductors and slower in poor conductors
B) Conduction happens at the same speed in all materials
4. Why are good heat conductors used for cooking pots?
A) Because they efficiently transfer heat from the stove to the food
B) Because they prevent heat from reaching the food
5. When does heat conduction typically occur in daily life?
A) During activities like cooking and making hot beverages
B) Only in industrial processes and scientific experiments
6. What are materials that slow down heat conduction called?
A) Insulators, such as wood and plastic
B) Accelerators, such as metals and ceramics
7. Why are plastic and wood considered poor heat conductors?
A) Because they resist heat transfer and are suitable as insulators
B) Because they conduct heat better than metals
8. Which statement about insulators is correct?
A) Insulators slow down or prevent heat conduction
B) Insulators speed up heat transfer between objects
9. What makes a material a good heat conductor?
A) Its ability to quickly transfer heat through direct contact
B) Its ability to completely block all heat transfer
10. Where might you find good heat conductors being used?
A) In cooking utensils and heating devices
B) In materials designed to keep things cold
13
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
INVESTIGATION
AIM: To determine which metal is a good conductor of heat.
MATERIALS AND APPARATUS:
1. Bunsen burner / Spirit burner
2. matches
3. Vaseline / Wax
4. iron, steel, brass and aluminium rods
5. stopwatch
6. drawing pins
7. tripod
METHOD:
1. Stick the flat end of a drawing pin to the end of each of the metal rods using the Vaseline
as shown in the diagram.
2. Carefully place the edges of the four metals towards the Bunsen burner.
3. Put a pin on the other end of each metal in the Vaseline.
4. Start heating the metals evenly.
5. Record the time it takes every pin to drop off.
RESULTS
Metal used Time taken to drop off
Iron
Steel
Brass
aluminium
14
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
CONCLUSION
What is your conclusion regarding the heat conduction of the four metals?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Use the graph grid to draw a bar graph using the results in the table.
15
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
CONVECTION
(a) The term "heat convection" is derived from the Latin word "convectionem," which means
"to carry."
(b) In the context of physics and thermodynamics, convection refers to the process of
carrying heat through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases).
(c) Convection is the movement heat through fluids (liquids and gases) when heated.
(d) Heat always travels from a hot to a cold object.
(e) Liquids and gas particles expand at high
temperatures and move down at low
temperatures.
(f) The up and down movement of liquids and
gas particles due to heat transfer is known as
convection current.
Examples of heat convection in daily lives
Heat a room by convection, where warm air rises and cool air descends to be reheated.
In cars, forced convection cools the engine using a radiator and fan.
In air conditioners, as cool air is blown into the room, it tends to sink (being denser),
while the warmer air rises, creating a natural circulation pattern that helps distribute the
cooled air more evenly.
Answer the following questions:
1. What is the origin of the term "convection"?
A) It comes from the Latin word meaning "to carry" heat through fluid movement
B) It comes from the Greek word meaning "to stand still" without movement
2. In thermodynamics, what does convection specifically refer to?
A) The transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases)
B) The transfer of heat through solid materials without any movement
3. How does heat typically move between objects?
A) Always from hotter objects to colder objects
B) Always from colder objects to hotter objects
4. What happens to fluid particles when they are heated?
16
A) They expand and become less dense, causing them to rise
Page
B) They contract and become more dense, causing them to sink
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
5. What is the name for the circular motion created by rising warm fluid and sinking
cool fluid?
A) Convection current
B) Conduction cycle
6. Which of these is an example of natural convection in daily life?
A) Warm air rising and cool air descending in a heated room
B) Heat traveling through a metal spoon in hot soup
7. How do car engines use convection for cooling?
A) Through forced convection using a radiator and fan system
B) Through solid conduction using metal cooling plates
8. What creates the air circulation pattern in air-conditioned rooms?
A) Cooler air sinking while warmer air rises, creating convection currents
B) Air moving randomly without any particular pattern or direction
9. Why does warm air rise in convection currents?
A) Because it becomes less dense when heated
B) Because it becomes more dense when heated
10. Which statement correctly describes convection?
A) It involves the physical movement of heated fluid particles
B) It occurs only in solids through direct contact
RADIATION
(a) Radiation is the transmission of energy in a form of waves.
(b) The energy (heat) is transferred from a source and travels through space as
electromagnetic waves.
(c) Heat radiation also occurs in visible light or the light that we see.
(d) Heat radiation does not require a medium and it happens in liquids, gases and solids.
(e) All objects can emit or absorb heat in their surrounding depending on their temperature
(heat travels from hot to cold objects).
(f) Radiation heats up dark surfaces because dark surfaces absorb more light energy while
light coloured objects emit more light.
(g) The more light an object absorbs, the more it heats up.
17
(h) Shiny surfaces on the other hand reflect or cause light to bounce off.
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
Examples of heat radiation
The Sun emits electromagnetic radiation which heats the Earth.
Heat lamps are used in restaurants to keep food warm by emitting infrared radiation.
Answer the following questions:
1. What is heat radiation?
A) The transmission of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves
B) The transfer of heat through direct contact between objects
2. How does heat radiation travel?
A) Through space as electromagnetic waves without needing a medium
B) Only through liquids and gases by particle movement
3. What types of materials can heat radiation occur in?
A) Only in gases and liquids
B) In solids, liquids, and gases (all states of matter)
4. What determines whether an object emits or absorbs heat radiation?
A) The object's temperature compared to its surroundings
B) The object's size and shape only
5. Why do dark surfaces heat up more from radiation?
A) Because they absorb more light energy
B) Because they reflect more light energy
6. What happens to light when it hits shiny surfaces?
A) It gets completely absorbed and converted to heat
B) It gets reflected or bounces off the surface
7. Which of these is an example of heat radiation?
A) The Sun warming the Earth with electromagnetic waves
B) A metal spoon getting hot in a cup of tea
8. How do heat lamps keep food warm?
A) By emitting infrared radiation that heats the food
B) By blowing warm air over the food surface
9. What happens to an object that absorbs more light?
A) It heats up more because more energy is absorbed
18
B) It stays cooler because light energy passes through it
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
10. What is unique about heat radiation compared to conduction and convection?
A) It can transfer heat through empty space without a medium
B) It only works when objects are touching each other
INVESTIGATION: HEAT ABSORPTION
Introduction:
A colour that absorbs light changes the light into heat energy. The more light a material
absorbs, the more heat energy it produces.
AIM: To compare the heat absorptions of different colours.
MATERIALS AND APPARATUS:
(a) 3 metal containers painted dark, white and silver
(b) 3 thermometers
(c) Water
(d) Stop watch or digital clock
Method:
1. Add the same amount of water in each container.
2. Take a temperature reading every 3 minutes
3. Record your readings in a table.
19
4. Compare the readings.
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
Results
Temperature at 3 minutes intervals
Material 3 minutes 6 minutes 9 minutes
Dark metal
White metal
Aluminium metal
Conclusion
What is your conclusion regarding the heat absorption of the three colours?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Use the graph grid to draw a line graph using the results in the table.
Colour
0 2 4 6 8 10
Time (min)
20
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
INSULATION AND ENERGY SAVING
Using insulating material
(a) Heat can be lost or gained through conduction, convection and radiation.
(b) Insulation is the use of materials to reduce the rate of heat transfer between objects or
environments.
(c) Insulation is commonly used in buildings, appliances (electrical and hot), etc.
(d) Insulators are used to reduce heat loss (in cold conditions) or excessive heat coming in
(hot conditions).
(e) Insulators are used in buildings, cars, clothes, blankets, cooler boxes and other designs
that need temperature regulation.
(f) Insulators help in conserving energy.
Answer the following questions:
1. Heat can be transferred...
A) only through radiation
B) through conduction, convection, and radiation
(Answer: B - Heat can be transferred through conduction, convection, and radiation)
2. Insulation is used to...
A) increase heat transfer
B) reduce heat transfer
(Answer: B - Insulation is used to reduce heat transfer)
3. Insulation is commonly applied in...
A) only buildings
B) buildings, appliances, and other designs
(Answer: B - Insulation is commonly applied in buildings, appliances, and other designs)
4. Insulators help control...
A) both heat loss and excessive heat gain
B) only heat loss in cold conditions
(Answer: A - Insulators help control both heat loss and excessive heat gain)
21
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
5. An example of insulation use is in...
A) only electrical wires
B) blankets and cooler boxes
(Answer: B - An example of insulation use is in blankets and cooler boxes)
6. Insulators are important in buildings to...
A) make walls heavier
B) regulate indoor temperature
(Answer: B - Insulators are important in buildings to regulate indoor temperature)
7. Insulators conserve energy by...
A) reducing unwanted heat transfer
B) generating extra heat
(Answer: A - Insulators conserve energy by reducing unwanted heat transfer)
8. A likely insulator is...
A) a metal spoon
B) a wool blanket
(Answer: B - A likely insulator is a wool blanket)
9. Without insulation in a house...
A) heat escapes faster in winter
B) temperature stays perfectly stable
(Answer: A - Without insulation in a house, heat escapes faster in winter)
10. Insulators are useful...
A) only in freezing weather
B) in both hot and cold environments
(Answer: B - Insulators are useful in both hot and cold environments)
22
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
INVESTIGATION
AIM: To compare the effectiveness of different materials as thermal insulators.
Hypothesis: Formulate a hypothesis
MATERIALS AND APPARATUS
(a) 1 Large beaker / bottle
(b) 1 Small beaker / bottle
(c) Bunsen burner / Spirit burner
(d) Thermometer
(e) Styrofoam
(f) Plastic
(g) Newspaper
(h) Stop watch / Watch
Method:
1. Place a small beaker into a larger beaker or use bottles.
2. Heat water to a boil and use it to fill the small beaker.
3. Make a lid out of cardboard and drill a hole big enough to insert a thermometer.
4. Put the cardboard lid over the large beaker.
5. Insert a thermometer through the lid into the smaller beaker.
6. Take a reading of the water temperature over 5 minutes on one minute intervals.
7. Repeat steps 1- 6 now putting the following materials between the two beakers as
insulators:
(a) Styrofoam
(b) Plastic
(c) Newspaper
23
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
RESULTS
Insulator Temperature in ◦C at 1 minute intervals
1 min 2 min 3 min 4 min 5 min
None
Styrofoam
Plastic
Newspaper
Conclusion:
What is your conclusion about the materials used as insulators?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Use the graph grid to draw a line graph using the results in the table.
Temperature
0 1 2 3 4 5
Time (min)
24
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
ENERGY TRANSFER TO SURROUNDINGS
(a) Systems have energy input and output.
(b) Energy input is the energy that goes in and output is the useful energy.
(c) Appliances produce useful energy outputs
(d) Not all energy in systems is useful energy since some energy is being wasted.
(e) Energy is wasted in the form of heat, sound and light or even transferred to
surroundings.
(f) We say it is wasted because it is not used for the intended purpose.
(g) Cars waste about 65% energy in the form of heat.
(h) Coal power stations waste about 50% of energy as heat.
(i) We can use a Sankey diagram to show how energy can be transferred in a system.
Answer the following questions:
1. What is energy input and output?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Explain the ways in which energy is wasted.
25
__________________________________________________________________________
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
3. How much energy do cars and coal power station waste?
__________________________________________________________________________
4. Use the diagram to answer the questions that follow.
4.1 What is the energy input in this diagram?
__________________________________________________________________________
4.2 How much is the energy input as shown in the diagram?
______________________________________________________________________
4.3 If 25 % of the energy is wasted as heat, what is the amount of energy wasted?
______________________________________________________________________
4.4 How much energy is wasted as sound?
______________________________________________________________________
4.5 What is the useful energy of the drill?
______________________________________________________________________
4.6 The efficiency of an electric drill also depends on the number of turns per minute. How
can you improve the efficiency of the electric drill shown?
______________________________________________________________________ 26
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
THE NATIONAL ELECTRICITY SUPPLY SYSTEM
(a) National electricity grid is the production of electricity in a huge scale.
(b) The grid works as a circuit.
(c) Coal, oil, gas, nuclear power, solar, wind, geothermal and water all contribute to the
national electricity grid.
(d) Heat energy is used to heat water and generate steam.
(e) The steam is used to turn the blades of turbines
(f) Turbines are connected to the generator.
(g) The turbines then turn the generators that produce electricity.
(h) The electricity is then transferred into the national electricity supply grid through wires.
(i) Pylons carry the electrical energy in cables to consumers to use it.
(j) Dynamos are small electric generators used in some bicycles, mining helmets, windup
torches and radios to produce small amounts of useful energy from mechanical
movement.
27
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
Answer the following questions:
1. What is the national electricity grid?
A) A large-scale system for producing and distributing electricity across a country
B) A small local network that powers individual homes
2. How does the national grid function?
A) As a complete circuit that generates, transmits and distributes electricity
B) As separate isolated systems that don't connect to each other
3. Which energy sources contribute to the national grid?
A) Only fossil fuels like coal and gas
B) Multiple sources including coal, solar, wind, nuclear and hydropower
4. What is the purpose of heating water in power plants?
A) To create steam that turns turbines
B) To provide hot water for nearby communities
5. What do the spinning turbines do in power generation?
A) They rotate generators to produce electricity
B) They cool down the steam from the boilers
6. How is electricity transported to consumers?
A) Through wires carried by tall pylons
B) Through underground pipes
7. What are dynamos?
A) Small generators that convert mechanical energy to electricity
B) Large power plants that supply cities
8. Where might you find dynamos being used?
A) In bicycles and wind-up torches
B) In nuclear power stations
9. What happens after generators produce electricity?
A) It goes into the national grid for distribution
B) It gets stored in large batteries first
10. What is the main function of pylons?
A) To support cables that carry electricity over long distances
28
B) To generate additional power through wind turbines
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
CONSERVING ELECTRICITY IN THE HOME
(a) Producing electricity comes at a cost hence electricity must be conserved.
(b) The electricity system in South Africa has been under strain.
(c) The strain has led to rotating power disruptions.
(d) Saving electricity is a responsibility for all.
(e) We can save electricity by turning off the lights when not in the room or building.
(f) Saving electricity includes dressing warm instead of using heaters.
(g) Do not boil or heat more water than you need.
(h) Match pot size to stove plate and use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs.
Answer the following questions:
1. Why is electricity conservation important?
A) Because producing electricity has significant costs and our systems are strained
B) Because electricity is unlimited and doesn't need conservation
2. What has been happening to South Africa's electricity system?
A) It has been under strain leading to rotating power disruptions
B) It has been operating with excess capacity and no issues
3. Who is responsible for saving electricity?
A) Only large businesses and industries
29
B) Everyone has a responsibility to conserve electricity
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
4. What is one simple way to save electricity at home?
A) Leaving lights on when leaving a room
B) Turning off lights when not in the room
5. How can you reduce electricity use for heating?
A) By dressing warmly instead of using heaters
B) By keeping heaters on all day for comfort
6. What's an energy-saving practice for cooking?
A) Boiling only the amount of water you need
B) Always filling pots to maximum capacity
7. How should you match cookware to stove elements?
A) Use pots that match the size of the stove plate
B) Always use the largest pots regardless of stove size
8. What type of appliances help conserve electricity?
A) Energy-efficient models
B) Older, conventional models
9. What is NOT an electricity-saving practice?
A) Using incandescent bulbs instead of LEDs
B) Unplugging unused electronics
10. Why are rotating power disruptions implemented?
A) To manage strained electricity supply
B) To encourage people to use more electricity
30
Page
NS Grade 7 Term 3 Learner Guide DEJC
