Renewable energy sources are changing how we think about work and energy in many areas, especially when it comes to how we create and use energy. Here’s how these sources make a difference:
Solar Energy: By 2020, the U.S. added over 97 gigawatts (GW) of solar power. That’s enough to power more than 18 million homes! Solar panels take sunlight and turn it into electricity, showing how we can use energy from the sun.
Wind Energy: By the end of 2020, the U.S. had more than 122 GW of wind power, which made about 8.4% of the country’s electricity. Wind turbines catch the energy from the wind and turn it into electrical energy. This shows how we can change the wind's movement into usable power.
Hydropower: In 2020, hydropower accounted for about 31% of renewable energy used. These plants use the energy of water that’s stored in high places. When the water flows down, it turns into energy that can be converted into electricity.
Renewable energy systems are often more efficient. For example, modern wind turbines can change up to 50% of the wind’s energy into electricity. In contrast, older thermal power plants can only convert about 33% of the energy they use.
Using renewable energy helps us use less fossil fuel. If the U.S. switched to 100% renewable energy, it could save over $1 trillion in health and environmental costs by 2030. This shift could also improve the economy related to energy use.
Moving toward renewable energy affects not only the environment but also changes how we understand work in physics. Traditionally, work is thought of as force times distance (). But in renewable energy systems, work involves new technologies that help us use energy from natural sources in a smart way.
This change encourages us to think differently about energy efficiency, sustainability, and conservation in the modern world. It helps us appreciate the connection between work and energy even more.
Renewable energy sources are changing how we think about work and energy in many areas, especially when it comes to how we create and use energy. Here’s how these sources make a difference:
Solar Energy: By 2020, the U.S. added over 97 gigawatts (GW) of solar power. That’s enough to power more than 18 million homes! Solar panels take sunlight and turn it into electricity, showing how we can use energy from the sun.
Wind Energy: By the end of 2020, the U.S. had more than 122 GW of wind power, which made about 8.4% of the country’s electricity. Wind turbines catch the energy from the wind and turn it into electrical energy. This shows how we can change the wind's movement into usable power.
Hydropower: In 2020, hydropower accounted for about 31% of renewable energy used. These plants use the energy of water that’s stored in high places. When the water flows down, it turns into energy that can be converted into electricity.
Renewable energy systems are often more efficient. For example, modern wind turbines can change up to 50% of the wind’s energy into electricity. In contrast, older thermal power plants can only convert about 33% of the energy they use.
Using renewable energy helps us use less fossil fuel. If the U.S. switched to 100% renewable energy, it could save over $1 trillion in health and environmental costs by 2030. This shift could also improve the economy related to energy use.
Moving toward renewable energy affects not only the environment but also changes how we understand work in physics. Traditionally, work is thought of as force times distance (). But in renewable energy systems, work involves new technologies that help us use energy from natural sources in a smart way.
This change encourages us to think differently about energy efficiency, sustainability, and conservation in the modern world. It helps us appreciate the connection between work and energy even more.