Energy: Thermal Energy and Methods of Transfer

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

• critical thinking
• collaboration
• communication
• global citizenship
• problem-solving

Australian Curriculum (v9.0) content description: Year 9 Physics

• Apply the law of conservation of energy to analyse system efficiency in terms of energy inputs, outputs, transfers and transformations AC9S9U05
• Use wave and particle models to describe energy transfer through different mediums and examine the usefulness of each model for explaining phenomena AC9S9U04
  

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability

Syllabus outcomes: Stage 5: PW3

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability 

Relevant parts of Year 9 Physics achievement standards: Students can analyse energy conservation in simple systems and apply wave and particle models to describe energy transfer and analyse the different ways in which science and society are interconnected.

UN SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy

• 7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• 7.3 By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
• 7.A By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.

• Device capable of presenting audiovisual material
• Student devices for research
• 3 x soft drink cans
• 3 x thermometers
• 3 x plastic tubs
• Hot water
• Ice

This unit of lessons, along with the other units in the Skills and Jobs For a Transitioned Economy package, aims to teach students how to be climate solution entrepreneurs. These lessons will equip students with the relevant skills and knowledge of jobs and career pathways that will be able to sustain our economy once it has transitioned away from fossil fuels. Cool.org thanks our philanthropic partners, the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation and Boundless Earth, for their generous contributions in helping us to create these resources.