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Power Grid in High School Physics (and Vice Versa!)

This research experience for teachers (RET) project explores the relationship between power grid systems and high school physics. Students engage in hands-on experiments to understand frequency disturbance, wave phenomena, series and parallel circuits, conservation of energy, and the basics of power generators. The experiments involve using a hand-crank DC generator to model the properties of an actual AC power grid, allowing students to acquire data and make observations. The project also investigates the effects of load changes, different transmission line voltages, and the use of energy storage in a power grid.

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Power Grid in High School Physics (and Vice Versa!)

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  1. Power Grid in High School Physics (and Vice Versa!) Matthew W. Milligan Farragut High School CURENT – Research Experience for Teachers (RET) July 17, 2012 Knoxville, Tennessee

  2. Power Grid & High School Physics • Frequency Disturbance- FNET data & animation- wave phenomena • Modeling the Grid in the Classroom- series and parallel circuits- significance of I2R- conservation of energy- generators basics

  3. A hand-crank DC generator is used as a power source for a classroom electrical “grid” that models properties of the actual AC power grid.

  4. Students get a true hands-on experience! Data acquisition system measures voltages and currents

  5. Switches are used to simulate generator and load changes A “lamp cord” serves as the “transmission line”

  6. Students can judge the power produced by tactile feedback of their own exertion and the power consumed by visual feedback of brightness of the lamps.

  7. Experiment 1: Explore the effects of changes in generation and changes in load.

  8. G G A Power Transmission– Effect of Load Change V Generators Transmission Line Variable Load

  9. Effect of Load Change on Generation The result is an increase in voltage output of generator At t = 5 s, the switch is opened, decreasing the load

  10. Effect of Load Change on Generation Student compensates to bring the voltage back down. The result is an increase in voltage output of generator Lower current means less power needs to be generated, so less effort is needed to turn the crank

  11. Effect of Load Change on Generation The result is initially a decrease in generator voltage, but again student compensates (eventually) The switch is then closed, increasing the load

  12. Questions for Students • If the load changes, why must student(s) exert a different amount of force to crank the generator(s)? • How is there an increase in electric power delivered across the transmission line even though the voltage is not increased? • What happens in an actual power plant if there is a sudden and significant change in the load? • What differences would occur if generators are present at both ends of the transmission line?

  13. Experiment 2: Explore the effects of different transmission line voltages.

  14. G G A Power Transmission Model – “Low Voltage” Vin Vout Generators Transmission Line Load

  15. G G A Power Transmission Model – “High Voltage” Vin Vout Generators Transmission Line Load

  16. Questions for Students • Although there is clearly better efficiency delivering electric power at high voltage, what are disadvantages of the series connections? • How are the actual generators of the nation’s power grid interconnected? • How is high voltage transmission achieved? • If energy is conserved, what becomes of the wasted electrical power (accounting for difference between input and output)?

  17. Experiment 3: Explore the use of energy storage in a power grid.

  18. G A A Power Grid Model – With Energy Storage (Capacitor) Io Is Vin Vout Capacitor

  19. Initially energy is put into the capacitor (while the load is “low” – switch is off).

  20. The result is a release of energy from the capacitor At t = 31 s, the switch is closed, increasing the load

  21. AC Power? • It may be very difficult to synchronize multiple generators – but might be fun to try! • Commercially made hand-crank generators AC generators are hard to find (nonexistent?). • Bicycle “dynamos” may be adaptable for the classroom…

  22. Bicycle “dynamo” AC generator Improvised handle and flywheel

  23. Experiment 4: Vary the load on an AC generator The light can be seen to flicker as the wheel turns…

  24. A AC Power Demonstration V Bicycle Dynamo Variable Load

  25. Load is varied by switch as dynamo flywheel spins freely…

  26. Resistance Increases Resistance Decreases

  27. This represents electrical energy “extracted” from the free spinning dynamo

  28. EMF determined by

  29. AC Power – Ideas to Explore • Experiment with variations in flywheel/handle design. • Try turning the dynamo by using a falling mass hanging from string wrapped around wheel and axle. This would provide constant torque and it would be easy to determine the energy or power input.

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