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Science lesson plan · 9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 30 minutes

Efficiency

Energy

CCSS NGSS.HS-PS3-3England: KS4 Combined Science: Energy

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Efficiency.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Conservation of energy and wasted energy

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Wind-up toys or a pendulum, Energy transfer diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Conservation of energy and wasted energy). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. A motor is supplied with 200 J of energy. It transfers 180 J usefully. How much energy is wasted, in J? → 20 JPrompt: Energy is conserved: input = useful output + wasted output.
  2. What does the law of conservation of energy say? (Energy is used up and disappears / Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred / Machines create energy / Energy is always destroyed as heat) → Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferredPrompt: Where does "used" energy go?
  3. Conservation of energy: which statement is NOT true? (A Sankey diagram shows useful and wasted energy. / Wasted energy is often transferred to the surroundings by heating. / No real machine is 100% efficient. / Energy is used up and disappears.) → Energy is used up and disappears.Prompt: Can energy ever be created or destroyed?

Hook · 3 min

  • Wind up a toy or stretch an elastic band and ask where the energy goes.
  • Share the objective: Efficiency. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: A device is supplied with 200 J and transfers 30 J usefully. What is its efficiency, as a percentage?
  • Step 1: 30 ÷ 200 × 100 = 15
  • Step 2: So the answer is: 15%
  • Answer: 15 %
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. A device is supplied with 500 J and transfers 375 J usefully. What is its efficiency, as a percentage? → 75 %Prompt: efficiency = useful output ÷ total input
  2. A motor is 85% efficient. It is supplied with 3000 J. How much useful energy does it transfer, in J? → 2550 JPrompt: useful output = efficiency × total input

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. A device is supplied with 500 J and transfers 150 J usefully. What is its efficiency, as a percentage? → 30 %Prompt: efficiency = useful output ÷ total input
  2. How can a house be made more energy efficient? (open all the windows in winter / remove the curtains / add loft insulation and double glazing / use thinner walls) → add loft insulation and double glazingPrompt: Which changes reduce the rate of energy loss?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Conservation of energy and wasted energy.
  • Use concrete materials: wind-up toys or a pendulum.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-9.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Efficiency

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    How can a house be made more energy efficient?

    • A. open all the windows in winter
    • B. use thinner walls
    • C. add loft insulation and double glazing
    • D. remove the curtains

  2. Question 2

    A device is supplied with 400 J and transfers 40 J usefully. What is its efficiency, as a percentage?

    Answer%

  3. Question 3

    A motor is 90% efficient. It is supplied with 1500 J. How much useful energy does it transfer, in J?

    AnswerJ

  4. Question 4

    Can a device be more than 100% efficient?

    • A. Yes, if it is very small
    • B. Yes, if it uses a battery
    • C. Yes, if it is new
    • D. No, because energy cannot be created

  5. Question 5

    A device is supplied with 200 J and transfers 60 J usefully. What is its efficiency, as a percentage?

    Answer%

  6. Question 6

    A motor is 85% efficient. It is supplied with 500 J. How much useful energy does it transfer, in J?

    AnswerJ

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Answer key: Efficiency

  1. 1. C. add loft insulation and double glazing

  2. 2. 10 %

  3. 3. 1350 J

  4. 4. D. No, because energy cannot be created

  5. 5. 30 %

  6. 6. 425 J