Lesson 5 - 6
Explain water wheels and wind mills
Lesson Overview
Using the example of water or wind, students explore how usable energy is transformed into useful energy through a simple device. They will construct and conduct performance tests on their device as well as investigate the effect of a variable on this performance. Students will require ready access to ICT at a whole-class, small-group and individual level.
ACS Codes
ACSHE120 ACSIS124 ACSIS126 ACSIS129 ACSIS130 ACSIS131 ACSIS132 ACSIS133 ACSSU116 ACSSU117
Lesson Objectives
Students will:
- Investigate the factors that determine performance of a wind mill or water wheel.
Evidence of Learning
Can the student:
- Explain how a variable changes the performance of a water wheel or wind mill.
Example Learning Sequence
- Start with a working wind mill or water wheel.
- Collect baseline data of its performance by measuring the maximum weight that can be lifted.
- Identify variables that could affect the performance.
- Choose one variable to investigate.
- Keeping all other variables the same make a series of tests with incremental changes to the chosen variable.
- Collate results and graph the data.
- Analyse the data to find the relationship between the variable and the performance.