Energy Efficiency Lab
Students will investigate concepts about energy efficiency and heat output by measuring the heat emitted from different light bulbs.
Important: Please read the Energy Efficiency Lab Teacher Guide prior to using this laboratory activity. This guide provides you with all information for equipment and set up for this laboratory investigation.
- Ask students to respond to this question in their journals: What is energy efficiency?
- Inform students they will investigate the amount of energy used by different light bulb types.
- Divide the class into groups of 4. Distribute the Energy Efficiency Lab handout and investigation sheet to each student.
- Illustrate how to measure the temperature and record the measurements.
- Ask students to make predictions. Instruct students to complete observations for one light bulb station at a time for a maximum of 7 minutes. After 5-7 minutes, instruct student groups to rotate to a new light bulb station. Continue until student groups have completed their Light Bulb Activity Data Collection data chart for all four stations.
- Have students make observations and form explanations.
- Instruct students to evaluate their explanations and draw conclusions. Ask students to complete the Analysis section on their investigation sheet.
- Ask student groups to share their conclusions with the class and explain them.
- Address any misconceptions students may have. Review and discuss question responses from the students' investigation sheets. See Energy Efficiency Lab Assessment for sample answers.
- Ask students if they have any questions about concepts covered in the lesson and respond to their questions.
- If students at the completion of the activity do not understand the main concepts of energy efficiency and heat output, modify future instruction to provide time to revisit these concepts.
- To provide closure to the energy efficiency and conservation section of the energy unit, have students reflect on what they have learned about energy efficiency and conservation. Here are some suggestions:a) Have students revisit their concept map and add additional information to it.b) Provide students with a reflective question to respond in their journals about energy efficiency and conservation.For example: Name two things you learned about energy efficiency and conservation.
Materials Needed:
Handouts
Assessment Information
Energy Efficiency Lab Assessment (PDF / MS Word)
Teacher Resources/Content Support