Integrating Energy, Equity, and Place in High School Physics
Energy in its material and social context - Power plants
Power plants have tremendous social significance both locally and globally. This paper considers the energy dynamics of two electrical power production facilities: (1) the largest coal-fired electrical power production facility in the US, and (2) one of the facilities that provides significant electrical power to the authors. We suggest an analysis that includes the relationships between the power plant and the surrounding human, plant, and animal communities, as well as lands, waters, and air. We model an approach to energy learning that begins to prepare students to engage in ethical decision making about energy resources.
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Integrating Energy, Equity, and Place in High School Physics