Science of Electricity – Computation

Summary

Analyze, calculate, and compare how different energy sources generate electricity with this data-driven computation activity. Students apply math, science, and critical thinking skills to explore real-world questions about energy efficiency, operating costs, and emissions across multiple power generation technologies.

Using a detailed reference table of coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydropower, wind, and solar, students calculate metrics such as total energy inputs, cost per kilowatt-hour, and total carbon emissions for a city’s annual energy use. Through guided questions, they also determine the effects of different energy portfolios, compute weighted averages, and evaluate how shifting generation sources can change both cost and environmental impact.

This lesson reinforces concepts in energy conversion, efficiency, systems analysis, and sustainability, while helping students practice quantitative reasoning in an applied STEM context. It aligns with NGSS Physical Science and Engineering Practices, emphasizing computation, modeling, and interpretation of real-world data.

Use this as part of the Science of Electricity lesson or as a standalone activity that connects math to environmental science and energy literacy. Students leave with a deeper understanding of how energy is produced, the trade-offs among sources, and how data drives real-world energy decisions.