What kinds of energy have you used in the past 24 hours? Which of those sources were used 100 years, or 500 years in the past? Our appetite for energy has accelerated during the Modern Revolution!
Driving Question: How has our energy use changed over time?
- Create a list of all the energy that you’ve used in the past 24 hours. What are your top three sources? I’ve definitely used some electric energy today. In fact, the computer I’m typing on is currently tethered to its life source. And I wouldn’t even be typing if I didn’t fuel my body this morning! Food is another important energy source. I also depend on my car for long trips, which burns gasoline as a fuel source.
- Of your top three sources of energy, which of those existed 100 years ago? What about 500 years ago? The electric energy charging my computer and heating my home was probably not widely available 100 years ago, and certainly not 500 years ago! I’m sure people fueled up with their favorite breakfast foods 500 years ago, but I’m guessing diets have changed considerably. And the energy source for transportation? It was probably a horse, not a car.
Word of the Day: Fossil Fuel
- Definition: A non-renewable, carbon-based material such as coal, oil, or natural gas that can be used as an energy source.
- Fossil fuels were originally formed when the remains of living organisms were buried and broken down by intense heat and pressure over millions of years. Over the past century, our fossil fuel use has rapidly increased due to new technologies that allow us to harvest it from deep within the Earth’s crust.
Lesson
- Go to Khan Academy and read the article, “Acceleration.”
- In this article, historian Cynthia Stokes Brown reflects on the innovations around her that are a product of acceleration. She examines acceleration from the beginning of the Universe to the modern era. As you read, think about how those innovations changed the nature of our energy supply chain. What kinds of fuel would they require?
Historian’s Journal Prompt
- What will be the dominant source of energy in the future?
- How do you think our energy use will change in the future? If we could look 100 years into the future, would we still be dependent on fossil fuels? There are several exciting new explorations of clean energy sources, from solar to hydro to geothermal. Familiarize yourself with some of these cutting-edge energy sources and make a prediction for the future!
