Investigation 1: Tracing Electricity to Its Source

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To learn more about fossil fuels, visit the following web sites:

Learning About Fossil Fuels, US Dept. of Energy
Explore the Department of Energy's educational resource for fossil fuels.

The Origins of Fossil Fuels, Nuteeriat
This site provides an imaginative, in depth explanation of the origins of fossil fuels.


To learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of generating energy from fossil fuels, visit the following web sites:

Electricity Supply and Demand Fact Sheet, EIA - DOE
This site reviews the current issues facing electricity generation in the United States and explains how industry deals with these issues.

Electric Power Industry Overview, EIA - DOE
This page contains a list of links to web pages that provide information on various aspects of the electric power industry.


To learn more about electricity, visit the following web sites:

What is Electricity?, Energy Information Administration
Learn the basics about electricity, as well as investigate the brief history of electrical generation.

What is Electricity?, California Energy Commission
This web site provides information on electrical wires and batteries, as well as provides directions to a simple experiment that will help you understand the transference of electrons.

"Electricity" Misconceptions in Textbooks, William J. Beaty
Visit this web site to find information on more than 14 common misconceptions on electricity that are often perpetuated in textbooks.


To learn more about how does energy move from the source, through the wire and into a home or building, visit the following web sites:

Electricity, EIA - DOE
Explore the generation and transportation of electricity, including the purpose of turbines and nonrenewable/renewable energy sources in these processes.

Electricity Transmission System, California Energy Commision
Learn how electricity gets to the customers, after its production at the power plants.

Virtual Tour of a Power Plant, XCEL Energy
Take a trip through this state-of-the-art power generating plant. The descriptions and graphics of real power plants make this a useful tool for learning about electricity.


To learn more about natural resources are needed for a power plant to work, visit the following web sites:

How Electricity Is Produced, GE
Explore the standard process of creating electricity, regardless of the power source at this site.


To learn more about how turbines work, visit the following web sites:

Generators, Turbines and Power Plants, California Energy Commision
Find out how generators, turbines, and powerplants work together to create electricity.

Energy 101: Wind Turbines, EREN- DOE
Watch this video to learn how wind turbines can make electricity.

Start Your Engines, Thinkquest
Check out this page to learn more about steam turbines and different turbine types.

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AGI's professional development programs for teachers are supported by generous contributions from corporate contributors of the American Geosciences Institute Foundation and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation.