Year 9 Science · Unit 3 · Lesson 13
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Learning Goals
Order the steps
Number the events from 1 to 9 to show the correct order for coal-fired electricity generation. Event 1 = what happens first.
| Order | Event |
|---|---|
| Steam spins the turbine blades at high speed | |
| Coal is mined from the ground (e.g. Hunter Valley, NSW) | |
| Electricity is produced and sent into the transmission grid | |
| Water is heated in the boiler and turns to steam | |
| Coal is burned in a furnace, releasing thermal energy | |
| The generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy | |
| Coal is transported by rail to the power station | |
| The spinning turbine drives the generator shaft | |
| Electricity is transmitted at high voltage to homes and businesses |
Real-world context
The Liddell coal power station in the Hunter Valley, NSW, operated for 52 years before closing in April 2023. At its peak, Liddell generated 2,000 MW of electricity, enough to power about 1 million homes. Its closure was part of Australia's gradual transition away from ageing coal infrastructure toward renewable energy sources and grid-scale storage.
(a) Describe the chain of energy transformations that occurred at Liddell power station, from the chemical energy stored in coal to the electrical energy delivered to homes.
(b) Suggest TWO reasons why Liddell was closed in 2023 rather than being kept running indefinitely.
(c) What specific challenges arise when replacing a large coal plant like Liddell with renewable sources? Hint: think about when coal produces electricity versus when solar or wind can produce electricity.
1. Explain why coal is sometimes called "stored sunshine." What was the original source of the energy it contains?
2. Australia has no nuclear power plants but has large uranium deposits. What energy transformation occurs in a nuclear reactor, and how does it differ from coal combustion?
Wrap Up
In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?