Blurring the boundaries between science and mathematics

Autumn 2009

Aims of the session

• To demonstrate the interconnectedness of mathematics and science

• To begin to explore a resource rich in learning opportunities for science, mathematics and citizenship sessions

• To learn something ourselves

What skills do science and mathematics have in common?

Both require the ability to• Read• Communicate• Reason• Calculate• Interpret• Problem solve

Our topic for this session is…

energy….

In particular,

getting to grips with our use of energy.

Credits

All subsequent material is drawn from “Sustainable energy – without the hot air” by David Mackay, downloadable as an e-book from http://www.withouthotair.com/

Professor Mackay sets the scene

• (Insert video hotlink if desired)• http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/

newsandevents/audio/

Energy..

Is consumed by

• Cars• Jet flights• Heating and cooling• Making stuff• Gadgets

Can be generated by

• Wind• Solar heating• Photovoltaic panels• Tide• Biomass

So……

• Q. How can we make sense of all this?• A. By using numbers

Choosing a unit

For ease of comparability we will use1 kWh per day

as our basic unit. This is the energy that would be used by a 40W bulb if switched

on for 1 day.

Looking at some energy consumption data (in kWh per

day)• Stuff (48)• Cars (40)• Heating and cooling (37)• Jet flights (30)

• Gadgets (5)

• UK total per person (125)

Finally

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.

Native American proverb