Geothermal Energy: What's So Great About It?

Geothermal energy is the heat, which is generated from the outer layer of the earth. The products, steam and the hot water are both valuable resources, which can be practically used for generating electricity. These resources are renewable and the heat and the energy is constantly produced, therefore can be utilized for various purposes. There are many benefits of using geothermal energy and one of them is to use this energy for heating large structures.

Interestingly, the thermal power plants do not require fuel. The hot water produced is readily available from the earth reservoir, which gives a constant supply. Environmentally, this is a very effective source of power, as it does not involve any kind of pollution. The power generating plants are high technology techniques, whereas the geothermal technology is much simpler and needs minimum area. The electricity can be produced without contaminating the environment.

The hot water reservoirs can be used by drilling the wells into them, and the supply of this source is uninterrupted and useful for generating the electricity. This type of power is very useful for the remote areas, where the power can be supplied constantly using this technology. The steam produced is used to power the generators and the turbines. One of the major advantages is the cost, which is quite low as compared to running other plants, as the equipment required can be fabricated in house.

The power is generated by using the concept of heating cold water using the internal heat of the earth.This results in producing steam, because of the presence of high temperatures inside the earth. This steam rises back to the surface and can be utilized for performing various activities.

There are several benefits, which include the economic and environmental prospects. The clean power is one of them, as it does not require any fossil fuels to run. Economically, the running of these plants is not very expensive and the governments offer tax benefits to encourage its use. Many opportunities in the development area are created.

The various types of sources available include solar, wind, hydroelectric etc. But the clean source is the geothermal which can be utilized for various activities related to agriculture such as growing flowers. This source is even used for raising fishes.

For long time, the burning fossil fuels like coal have been used to generate power, but the concept is changing towards renewable source. The advantage of geothermal energy include its constant availability, which can be utilized in various forms.

School Science Lab Equipment - What's Best In The Classroom?

What Should Be Allowed In School Science Labs?

Very often, one of the more exciting subjects for students to learn about in school is science. After all, while it can be pretty difficult to do any kind of exciting hands-on activity in a history, or literature, or math classroom, it is possible to demonstrate a number of different fascinating principles right there in the science classroom, provided that the school has the equipment handy. That way, instead of just learning about science in theory, the kids can experience the subject firsthand in a much more memorable and interesting way.

Of course, this kind of situation is necessarily limited by the equipment which is available in the classroom for the students and teachers to use, which begs an important question: what, exactly, should teachers have in their school science classrooms and/or labs? It is an important point to consider, because one the one hand having a lot of equipment around can be a fantastic resource for students who might otherwise not be extremely interested in science to get a chance to see unusual phenomena in action.

On the other hand having a lot of that kind of equipment can get expensive pretty fast, to say nothing of the fact that if we are not careful about deciding which equipment goes in the classroom, students might be dealing with more than they can handle, which can create a dangerous situation.

When we think of what sort of equipment there should be in an ideal science classroom, there is a lot to consider, because there are many different sciences. One of the first to consider is biology. In a biology classroom, it may be helpful to students to have sample of living things. This is a great opportunity to grow plants in the classroom, because students will enjoy watching them grow, and they are inexpensive. Also, unless the plants are poisonous, danger to the students is no concern.

Beyond that there is the question bringing creatures into the class. These can be trickier, but it is important not have anything that requires too much space or attention. Any animal that can live in an aquarium or terrarium, and can be safely left over a long weekend with some food and water, is probably fine.

Then there is the question of equipment in chemistry or physics classrooms. In these there is the potential for fire, or fumes, or a number of other dangerous situations that could arise if the students, or the teachers, are not careful. The best policy is one that maintains an optimal balance of safety, cost, and of course educational value. Although it is certainly tempting to wish for everything under the sun in your science lab, teachers must bear in mind which specific pieces of equipment will actually get used the most often and to greatest effect.

A well-equipped science classroom is a great resource, and as long as teachers and school administrators take the time to make informed decisions about the sort of equipment to buy, they should make every effort to get the best and most practical lab equipment possible.

3/15/2011