Year 8 - Science
Reducing emissions from transport
Climate change and greenhouse gases
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils learn about greenhouse gas emissions from transport and industry, and the use of renewable energy resources and changes to transport infrastructure that could reduce emissions.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe how to travel in ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Key Notes
- Cars use more energy to travel 100 km if they are heavier or travel at higher speeds.
- Cars use less energy if their tyres are inflated to the correct air pressure
- Walking and cycling regularly improve a person's physical health
- Well-planned infrastructure for cycling, walking and public transport make it easier and safer to travel without a car
Vocabulary To Learn
- efficiency: the fraction of energy supplied to an object or system that is usefully transferred
- streamlined: shaped to reduce drag forces
- infrastructure: the set of facilities and systems that serve an area
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Driving at a high speed does not have much effect on the amount of energy a car uses for a whole journey.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Cars use more energy to travel 100 km if they are heavier or travel at higher speeds. Cars use less energy if their tyres are inflated to the correct air pressure.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'efficiency'
the fraction of energy supplied to an object or system that is usefully transferred. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Driving at a high speed does not have much effect on the amount of energy a car uses for a whole journey. Correction: Discuss the idea that the faster a car travels, the greater the drag force pushing back on the car. A good analogy is walking slowly or quickly through water in a swimming pool - it's much harder to walk quickly because of the increased drag.
More Lessons In This Unit
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