Measurements and Calculations with Propane
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
lesson 5 overview MEASUREMENTS AND CALCULATIONS WITH PROPANE LESSON 5 UNIT: PROPANE PROBLEM AREA: PROPANE USE IN AGRICULTURE STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES Instruction in this lesson should result in students achieving the following objectives: 1. Outline the measurement and pricing of select energy sources. 2. Describe factors that influence the pricing of select energy sources. 3. Explain cylinder capacity and fill by weight and volume. 4. Compare the costs of various energy and fuel sources. 5. Evaluate EnergyGuide labels on consumer appliances. NATIONAL SCIENCE STANDARDS ADDRESSED IN THIS LESSON All students should develop an understanding of: Science and Technology: Content Standard E Δ Abilities of technological design Δ Understandings about science and technology Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Content Standard F Δ Natural resources Δ Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges NATIONAL MATHEMATICS STANDARDS (NCTM) ADDRESSED IN THIS LESSON Δ Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates Δ Develop fluency in operations with real numbers, vectors, and matrices, using mental computation or paper-and-pencil calculations for simple cases and technology for more complicated cases 1 lesson 5 overview LIST OF RESOURCES The following resources may be useful in teaching this lesson: Δ Propane.com/Agriculture Δ Energy.gov Δ NPGA.org Δ PropaneSafety.com LIST OF EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SUPPLIES, AND FACILITIES Δ Two coins (quarters best) Δ Piece of cloth Δ Two pieces of same metal, large enough to hold coins Δ Copies of sample test Δ Visuals from accompanying masters Δ Copies of student lab sheet TERMS The following terms are presented in this lesson (shown in bold italics throughout the lesson): 1. AFUE rating 2. cylinder gas 3. BTU 4. Energy Star label 5. EnergyGuide label 6. overfill prevention device (OPD) 7. tare weight 8. water capacity 2 lesson 5 overview TELL STUDENTS... “ Today’s lesson focuses on measurements and calculations with propane. You will be asked to outline how propane is measured and priced, calculate weight and volume of propane, compare costs of using various types of fuels, and evaluate energy labels on various types of appliances.” INTEREST APPROACH Use an interest approach that will prepare the students for the lesson. Teachers often develop approaches for their unique class and student situations. Two possible interest approaches are included here. This interest approach illustrates heat loss and the BTU (British thermal unit) as a measurement of heat; however, do not reveal this information to the class until the trick has been performed. VM–A shows pictures of the materials and procedure for your reference. Materials: Two coins (quarters work best), thick cloth or napkin, two flat pieces of metal Demonstration: 1. Arrange the class so everyone can see the demonstration. 2. Place two coins (quarters work well) side by side on a thick cloth. 3. Lay two flat pieces of metal near the coins displayed on the cloth. 4. Tell the students that you can smell the DNA from a human hand that touches the coins and that you have washed these coins to remove previous DNA. 5. Select a student to assist you. 6. Turn with your back to the coins, preferably facing the class so that everyone can see you are not observing your student assistant or the coins. 7. Ask the student to pick up one of the coins and hold it tightly in the hand of his or her choice. Then, ask the student to close both hands tightly. 8. Ask the student to concentrate on which hand the coin is in. The key is to stall until heat can transfer from the student’s hand to the coin. Lead the class in a discussion to Δ Define DNA Δ Tell where they have heard about DNA Δ Explain if they think they have DNA and how they got it 9. After two or three minutes, ask the student to place the coin back on the cloth and to move both coins around so you cannot tell which coin was held by its placement. 10. Pick up one of the coins, and lay it gently against your top lip and under your nose for a few seconds. Pretend to sniff the coin. Note the temperature of the coin on your lip. 11. Repeat Step 10 with the other coin. Although the students think you are sniffing the coins, you are really selecting the coin by temperature. The coin the student was holding will feel warmer. 12. Determine which coin was warmer — therefore supposedly containing the student assistant’s DNA — and announce your conclusion to the class. 3 lesson 5 overview Demonstration Breakdown: Tell the students that the demonstration was a trick — that your ability to select the right coin had nothing to do with DNA. Δ Ask the students for the secret behind the trick. If they cannot guess it, tell them the trick was related to heat. They should realize that the coin held in the hand was warmer — thus, the key to the trick. Δ Ask the class what might have happened if the coins had been laid on the metal plates instead of on the cloth after one had been held in the hand. Δ Lead the class to recognize that heat would have been lost much more quickly on the metal than on the cloth and that the trick might not have worked. Explain that the BTU is the unit used to measure heat and the loss of heat in applications. Δ Ask the class what the words “30,000 BTU” on a greenhouse heater mean. Δ Answer: The heater puts out 30,000 BTU per pound of fuel burned (usually calculated on a per hour basis). 4 lesson 5 summary of content SUMMARY OF CONTENT AND TEACHING STRATEGIES OBJECTIVE 1 Outline the measurement and pricing of select energy sources. Anticipated Problem: How are energy sources measured and priced? Energy sources are usually measured in pounds, gallons, or cubic feet. These units are converted to BTU for comparison purposes. A. Sources of energy include water, anthracite coal, bituminous coal, coke, diesel, electricity, fuel oil, kerosene, liquid propane, natural gas, propane, steam, wood, and many others. Because the physical state of these substances varies (Are they solid, liquid, or gaseous?), they are not all measured in the same way. B. Propane can be measured in gallons, for example, while electricity can be measured in watt-hours and wood can be measured in cords. C. In the United States, the standard unit for the measurement and comparison of energy sources is the BTU (British thermal unit). One BTU is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. This is approximately the amount of heat generated by one match. BTU measurements of common energy sources are: 1. Natural gas — 1,050 BTU per cubic foot 2. Propane — 2,500 BTU per cubic foot 3. Kerosene — 135,000 BTU per gallon vs. propane at 91,000 BTU per gallon and gasoline at 125,000 BTU per gallon 4. Wood — 7,870 BTU per pound 5 lesson 5 summary of content OBJECTIVE 2 Describe factors that influence the pricing of select energy sources. Anticipated Problem: What factors influence the pricing of select energy sources? Various factors can influence the pricing of propane. In recent years, virtually every source has experienced an increase in price. A. Three main factors contribute to higher fuel prices: 1. Higher crude oil and natural gas prices a. Propane, butane, kerosene, and gasoline are derived from crude oil, so the prices of these fuels track the price of crude oil. Propane costs are especially affected because propane competes mostly with crude-oil-based fuels for heating. Additionally, as with the prices of all energy sources, propane prices are influenced by the systems required to transport the energy source from production facilities to where it is used, whether by pipeline, ship, or truck. b. Propane and butane are both also derived from natural gas, so the price of natural gas determines the costs of propane and butane. 2. Seasonal weather conditions and location a. Colder temperatures during the winter months increase the demand for energy for heating, particularly in the northern part of the country. The increase in demand reduces supplies and leads to higher prices. Fuel retailers are prepared to meet the demand, but predictions of long-term weather trends are difficult. b. Warmer temperatures during the summer months increase the demand for energy for cooling, also reducing supplies and creating high demand on the electric grids. c. Fuel prices are also influenced by proximity of the customer to the supply. In an area such as the Gulf Coast, customers are close to major suppliers and shipping ports, so the effort needed to get propane or other fuels to customers is minimal. Those customers who live farther away usually pay additional prices when transportation costs are added. 3. International influences. The global propane market is constantly changing. An increasing number of new customers are turning to propane all over the world, particularly in Asian markets, such as China. Labor and political unrest elsewhere, including the Middle East, also contributes to higher energy prices. As a result, competition for propane increases, meaning higher prices. B. The propane industry helps consumers meet the challenges of increasing fuel costs. Retailers of other fuels conduct many of the same activities to assist their customers in dealing with cost fluctuations. 1. Propane wholesalers and retailers work hard to protect consumers from “sticker shock.” Many retailers purchase advance supplies of propane at lower contract prices to protect themselves and their customers from higher seasonal prices.