CONVERSION AND CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
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Subject: Science
Class: JHS 1
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 2
Grade code: B7.4.3.1.3
Strand code: 4
Sub-strand code: 3
Content standard code: B7.4.3.1
Indicator code: B7.4.3.1.3
Theme: FORCES AND ENERGY
Subtheme: CONVERSION AND CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
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Energy makes things happen: cooking, lighting, moving, pumping water, charging phones, and running machines. In Ghana, energy is important because electricity and fuel cost money, and sometimes power supply is limited. When we conserve energy, we reduce waste, save money, protect the environment (less smoke and greenhouse gases), and ensure enough energy for humans and other life forms. This lesson focuses on how energy is conserved (law of conservation of energy) and how we can conserve energy in daily life for the benefit of people, animals, and plants.
A. What is Energy? Energy is the ability to do work or cause change. Examples of changes: moving an object, heating water, lighting a bulb, producing sound.
Common forms of energy (JHS level): Chemical energy: stored in food, batteries, petrol, LPG, charcoal, wood. Electrical energy: in electric current powering appliances. Light (radiant) energy: from the sun, bulbs, fire. Heat (thermal) energy: hot objects, fire, hot water. Sound energy: from speakers, drums, engines. Kinetic energy: energy of moving objects (running, moving car). Potential energy: stored energy due to position (water in a dam, raised stone).
B. Energy Conversion (Transformation) Energy conversion means changing energy from one form to another. Examples in Ghanaian contexts Charcoal stove (coalpot) Chemical energy (charcoal) → Heat energy (cooking) + Light energy (glow) Some energy also becomes wasted heat to the surroundings. Mobile phone Chemical energy (battery) → Electrical energy → Light energy (screen) + Sound energy (speaker) + Heat energy (phone warming) Bicycle riding Chemical energy (food in your body) → Kinetic energy (moving bicycle) + Heat energy (body heat, friction) Hydroelectric power (Akosombo Dam) Potential energy (water stored high) → Kinetic energy (falling water) → Mechanical energy (turbine) → Electrical energy
C. Law of Conservation of Energy (What “Energy is Conserved” Means) Law of Conservation of Energy: Energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can only be converted from one form to another. So, in a closed system: