Mohamed_Emara____9A Essay

Unit: 4 THE COST OF SWITCHING ON? MYP4 GRADE 9PHYSICS Name: Mohamed Emara Date:13/3/2019. 9AStatement of inquiry: Our present reliance on fossil fuels for electricity production is environmentally unsustainable on a global scale and urgent solutions are required.Criterion D: Reflecting on the impact of science (SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT)Back ground information:As the name suggests, fossil fuels were formed a very long time ago (approximately 300 million years). Over the past 200 years, since the industrial revolution, we have used up a very high percentage of these non”renewable energy sources.

Worryingly, this use continues to increase. It is difficult to be sure exactly how much fossil fuel is left in a form we can extract, but undoubtedly you will start seeing signs of fossil fuels running out by 2050. So the concerns about the use of fossil fuels producing global warming coincides with the reality that their supplies are limited. Whichever way you look at it, society has to find alternative sources of energy.

Your Task is to ,Select one of the alternative sources of energy and explain the ways in which it is used to address a specific problem or issue. Give detailed account of the Physics concepts involved in it. Discuss and evaluate the implications of using this alternative source and its application to solve a specific problem or issue, interacting with a factor. Refer Table -1 Use correct scientific language throughout your work.Use Harvard referencing format with in-text citation and bibliography given at the end of your assignment. Task Specification GRASPSGoal: Produce a news article exploring implications of use of one of the alternative sources.Role: You are a journalist for a magazine.Audience: The article is intended for the general public (not scientists).Situation: People are increasingly relying on fossil fuel, they need to be informed about the issues related to the use of fossil fuel.Product: You should produce an article focusing on meeting the criterion in the given rubric.Standards: Refer to the attached rubric. Target level 7-8Table 1Select the relevant factors applicable to the energy source of your choice. Use information to put together information in your assignment. SocialThe people affected or involved, from a few people up to the global community. How does this impact relationships and the way people interact with each other?PoliticalIs the government involved directly, or are powerful groups trying to influence people or the government? Should the government get involved or stay out?EconomicThe costs and benefits of using science. Who pays or receives the benefit? Is it worth it?EnvironmentalIs the issue an environmental one in some way, either directly or indirectly? Be specific about the impacts. What part of the environment is impacted?CulturalA problem in one place is seen differently in another for reasons such as faith or what people see as important. Will cultural expression and celebration interact with this issue? EthicalIs it right or wrong to use science in this way? And if we do use it, is there a proper way to do it?Structure of your Task:1: IntroductionInclude your background research here. What is the problem with fossil fuel energy sources? How does the alternative source of energy you have chosen solve the problem? What is the science/ physics behind the alternative source of energy.2: Body ParagraphsYou should discuss the pros and cons of at least one of the factors listed in table 1. Your arguments should be supported by evidence from your research with the sources listed in the bibliography. The body should be written to try and convince someone of your opinion that is supported with research.3: ConclusionThis should be a summary of the main points of your research, sum up your argument to finally convince the reader that your opinion is the correct one.Achievement level Level descriptor Task Specific Clarification1-2 The student is able to: outline the ways in which science is used to address a specific problem or issue outline the implications of using science to solve a specific problem or issue, interacting with a factor apply scientific language to communicate understanding but does so with limited success document sources, with limited success. You were able to: outline the ways in which the alternate source of energy of your choice is used to address a specific problem or issue outline the implications of the use of your choice of alternative sources of energy and how it interacts with moral, social, economic, political, cultural or environmental factors in our world apply scientific language to communicate your understanding of the use of this alternative sources with limited successdocument sources with limited success 3-4 The student is able to: summarize the ways in which science is applied and used to address a specific problem or issue describe the implications of using science and its application to solve a specific problem or issue, interacting with a factor sometimes apply scientific language to communicate understanding sometimes document sources correctly. You were able to: summarize the ways in which the alternative source of your choice is used to address a specific problem or issue describe the implications of the use of your choice of alternative sources of energy and how it interacts with moral, social, economic, political, cultural or environmental factors in our world sometimes apply scientific language to communicate your understanding of the use of this this alternative sourcesometimes document sources correctly using Harvard system of referencing. 5-6 The student is able to: describe the ways in which science is applied and used to address a specific problem or issue discuss the implications of using science and its application to solve a specific problem or issue, interacting with a factor usually apply scientific language to communicate understanding clearly and precisely usually document sources correctly.You were able to: describe the ways in which the alternative source of energy of your choice is used to address a specific problem or issue. How this choice is used and made available to us. discuss the implications of the use of your choice of alternative sources of energy and how it interacts with moral, social, economic, political, cultural or environmental factors in our world. usually apply scientific language to communicate your understanding of the use of this alternative source of energy clearly and precisely usually document sources correctly using Harvard system of referencing.7-8 The student is able to: explain the ways in which science is applied and used to address a specific problem or issue discuss and evaluate the implications of using science and its application to solve a specific problem or issue, interacting with a factor consistently apply scientific language to communicate understanding clearly and precisely document sources completely. You were able to: explain the ways which the alternative source of energy of your choice is used to address a specific problem or issue. How this choice is used and made available to us. discuss and evaluate the implications of the use of your choice of alternative sources of energy and how it interacts with moral, social, economic, political, cultural or environmental factors in our world.consistently apply scientific language to communicate understanding the use of this alternative sources of energy clearly and precisely Document sources correctly using Harvard system of referencing.Strand i (explain the ways in which science is applied and used to address a specific problem or issue)Burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas results in the production of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, which could cause in the long-term global warming. Fossil fuels also cause: rising sea levels, hotter temperatures and tsunamis. Fossil fuels today costs much less than solar energy, but the real cost is on the environment. Solar energy is what will solve this problem. First off, for the solar energy to replace fossil fuels we will need a huge investment. Solar energy only produces less than 5 % of the worlds energy but there’s still hope for recovery. But there’s a major drawback for this as the best and most effective panel have an efficiency rate of 22%, the rest is not entering the circuit, so it’s gone to waste. A solar panel works by allowing photons (particles of light) to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity. Solar panel also have smaller units call photovoltaic (they convert sunlight to electricity).Strand ii (discuss and evaluate the implications of using science and its application to solve a specific problem or issue, interacting with a factor)For solar panels there’s also pros and cons. The pros are:Clean energy source Renewable and sustainable It can give access to energy needs around the world in places with no energy, just by installing a solar panel on top of the houseRefuse electricity billsIts commonly available in most countries Low maintenance costs The cons are; Initial cost, when installing might be expensive Produces power during day time onlyIf there’s air pollution it won’t work as efficient Expensive storage Solar panels have huge environment impact, both negative and positive. It has a huge amount of waste and they are not easy to recycle Solar panels often have lead, cadmium, and other toxic chemicals that cannot be removed without breaking apart the entire panel When thrown in the fields as their old, the disposal of it cause (in case) modules break and toxic materials come out, they go into the soil and is potentially a major issue After been thrown into the fields, they get mixed with rocks and dust and can’t be recycled However, they make the demand less for fossil fuels which in the long term makes the problem of global warming less and air pollution less. They also reduce greenhouse emissions and black carbon. Black carbon is linked to health impacts which lead to health effects. Which can cause diseases and by a very small chance lung cancer. Fossil fuels are more reliable but in reality the real cost is on the environment. New York time talked about solar energy and how it changed the life of a man in Nigeria the man said stress is reduced because he no longer hauls fuel from town. We enjoy the power more, he said. Also, in the article he mentioned that it was almost the same price for the gasoline, but the gasoline he would turn off multiple appliances for one to work, but for the solar panels he would use all of the appliances at the same time with no interruptions. Meaning we can improve solar and step-by-step we can make solar energy the number one energy. First off, for most governments, they should provide solar panels on top of each house which will then reduce the demand for fossil fuels. Next off the governments should install solar panel instead of drilling in the ground. And so, as step by step procedure. This change won’t happen in a night and a day, this will take many years. This is a huge investment and I think governments should start to invest some money and if they see improvements they should continue investing.In Nigeria, about 60% of the country lack access to electricity, so the government started to provide renewable energy to the people. The head of the Nigerian energy support program said that It’s going to make Nigeria more independent from other costly energy resources. And it creates additional jobs because it’s a new sector.So, the solar panels won’t just change the environment, but it will also change the economy as more people have more chances to get a job, all of this might happen just by replacing fossil fuels with solar panels. INCLUDEPICTURE ” * MERGEFORMATINET However, as it has a good economical factor it also is a bad one. Nigeria’s revenue for oil is more than 80%, making this move very dangerous for the economy, as it will make the dependent on another industry if the project fails. Also, for Nigeria to move to other industries such as food, construction and so, it will require electricity. Which will then bring back Nigeria to its original position.Strand iii (consistently apply scientific language to communicate understanding clearly and precisely) (Ensure scientific language is used in Strand i & Strand ii)Strand iv (document sources completely) (Use Harvard Referencing)Sustainablebuild.co.uk. (2019). The Problem with Fossil Fuels. [online] Available at: [Accessed 13 Mar. 2019].Science, L. (2019). How Do Solar Panels Work?. [online] Live Science. Available at: [Accessed 13 Mar. 2019].Greentumble. (2019). Can Solar Energy Ever Replace Fossil Fuels? | Greentumble. [online] Available at: [Accessed 13 Mar. 2019].Anon, (2019). [online] Available at: [Accessed 13 Mar. 2019].Forbes.com. (2019). If Solar Panels Are So Clean, Why Do They Produce So Much Toxic Waste?. [online] Available at: [Accessed 13 Mar. 2019].Airclim.org. (2019). Health effects of black carbon | Airclim. [online] Available at: [Accessed 13 Mar. 2019].Nytimes.com. (2019). Solar Mini-Grids Give Nigeria a Power Boost. [online] Available at: 13 Mar. 2019].Anon, (2019). [image] Available at: [Accessed 13 Mar. 2019].