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The Sun begins Fusion (c. 5,000,000,000 BC)
The Sun is the source of all biological energy on planet Earth. The beginning of Fusion in the sun was the beginning of Energy as we know it. The sun is made up mostly of hydrogen and helium. The large size of the star creates a huge gravitational pull in the core of the sun. In the core, hydrogen atoms are fused together, and turned into a helium atom. The fusing of these two atoms creates large amounts of energy. This energy is radiated to earth in the form of sunlight. Sunlight is gathered on earth as heat, and through a biological process called Photosynthesis.
Wind blows on Earth (c. 4,650,000,000 BC)
The sun generates wind currents on earth. Wind has been used by humans for thousands of years to sail across oceans, separate chaff and wheat, and to grind flour. The current is caused from an uneven heating of the earths surface from the sun. When the sun heats land, the air above it rises. The rising of the air creates a vacuum. This vacuum is filled by new air. The new air is heated, and the cycle continues. The cycle is known as a convection current, and creates wind on earth.
Ocean Currents Flow (c. 4,650,000,000 BC)
Ocean currents flow in the ocean as wind currents flow on the earth's surface. These currents take boats across the ocean, and help schools of fish migrate. They are created by an uneven heating of the ocean. Warm water rises, and cool water comes to fill the void. The cold water is heated, and the convection current continues. Ocean currents have been flowing for millions of years, just like wind currents.
Photosynthesis Begins (c. 4,300,000,000 BC)
Photosynthesis is an incredibly complex biological reaction that harvests energy from the sun, and stores it as a biological sugar known as glucose. The reaction also creates oxygen, a material necessary for life on earth. All plants use photosynthesis as a source of energy. During the photosynthesis reaction, oxygen and glucose are created from the sun's energy and oxygen. The growing of plants fuels animals, and is the cornerstone of biological life on earth.
Respiration Begins (c. 4,000,000,000 BC)
Respiration is another biological reaction that harvests energy from hydrogen bonds in food. Respiration is used in consumers as Photosynthesis is used in producers. Respiration essentially undoes photosynthesis. It takes oxygen and glucose, and releases carbon dioxide and energy. The energy released from this reaction has powered all consumers that ever existed on earth, in fact, it is powering you right now.
Coal, Oil, and Natural gas deposits develop (c. 4,000,000,000 BC)
Coal and oil deposits are very important to modern energy development, and for modern life. They are formed from ancient swamps and bogs. These swamps collected dead plants and animals. The plants and animals still contained energy even though they were dead. Over millions of years, these plant and animal collections were buried, and pressurized. Over millions of years of heat and pressure, they became coal, oil, and natural gas. The biological energy stored in these reserves was harvested by humans and they are used for many things, from energy generation to the creation of plastic.
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Fire Discovered (c. 500,000 BC)
The discovery of fire by early man was a turning point in the history of mankind. This discovery allowed man to control, to some extent, their environment. This added feature of control gave early man a distinct advantage over other animals at the time. The fire allowed man to create heat, and cook food. Although this advantage appears to be minor in today's world, it was the first step towards civilization for mankind.
Simple machines Utilized (c. 3,500 BC)
Simple machines, such as the wheel, ramps, pulleys, and levers allowed primitive man to create amazing landmarks, and allowed them to create villages, boats, and to make daily life more simple. Simple machines were imperative in the building of such landmarks as Stonehenge, and the Great Pyramids. The fine tuned use of these tools by other civilizations allowed the creation of the Great Wall of China, and other landmarks and cities.
Wind Power used by Humans (c. 700 BC)
Wind power was one of the first natural energy sources (other than the sun) that man utilized. Wind was used to sail boats in the ocean and in lakes, and for more simple things such as separating chaff from rice and grain. More advanced uses of wind, such as windmills would not have occurred until much later.
Water and Advanced Wind Power used by Humans (c. 500 BC)
Water and more advanced use of wind power gave man a more complex source of energy. The harnessing of energy from the water and wind through the use of windmills and paddlewheels gave man a steady source of useful energy. The energy harvested from the wind and water was used to grind wheat and grain. The new technology was one of the most complex sources of energy developed by man at the time, and served man until the discovery of electricity
Coal is burnt (c. 100 AD)
The burning of coal to release heat was a discovery that would help man much later. Coal was burnt by early civilizations only to release heat. The heat released was used in construction to melt metals, but was used mostly to create warmth for cooking and people.
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Coal Powers Trains (1850 AD)
One of the first applications of Coal Energy in modern times was the use of coal to power trains. The Trains would burn large amounts of coal. The heat energy released from he cal a used to boil water in a boiler, and the steam released drove a piston, and moved the train. These trains burned large amounts of coal, and became very popular forms of transportation of people, goods, and animals. The train remained popular until the invention of transport airplanes, much later.
Coal and Oil Power Plants Utilized (1875 AD)
Coal and Oil power plants were used in large cities to provide energy for the growing factories, and for the growing consumer demand for electricity. Coal and oil were burned, and the heat released boiled water. The boiled water released steam, and the steam turned a turbine. The turbine spins and drives a generator. The large generator generated electricity. These new power plants were huge polluters, and were also unreliable. The thick black smoke released from the plants created acid rain, turned paint colors, and was unhealthy for the general population. The power plants were so unreliable that consumers had electrical/candle lights in their house. These lights had a candleholder and a light bulb in the same fixture, so when the electricity went out, a candle could easily be lit.
Nuclear Power Discovered (1930 AD)
Nuclear Power was discovered during WWII, and was the most destructive force ever released by man. The wartime application of Nuclear power caused the deaths of thousands of unarmed civilians, but the peacetime application of nuclear power helped millions of people. Nuclear power uses a chain reaction to release heat energy. The heat energy boils water, and releases steam. The steam turns a turbine, and spins a generator. The generator generates electricity. Although nuclear power was very efficient, nuclear accidents such as Chernobyl, and Nine Miles Island continue to overshadow the industry. The threat of a nuclear meltdown in a power plant is a tradeoff of years of efficient electrical generation.
Solar Power Used (1970 AD)
Solar cells are a very new and efficient energy source. This amazing power source generates electricity directly from the sun. Using a silicon solar cell, the suns energy is turned directly from sunlight into electricity, at 100% efficiency. The lack of steam, turbines, generators and heat create a very efficient and useful source of power. The solar cell has many benefits, but it also has some negative parts as well. The most obvious negative part of a solar cell power plant is the fact that it needs sun to run. No power is generated during the night, and no power is generated during a cloudy day. The other major negative aspect of solar power is the fact that it is very expensive. Solar cells are incredible expensive right now, and creating a power plant out of solar cells would make energy from cells more expensive than any other power source. This form of energy generation is still in its infancy, and more developments and applications are being developed daily.
Natural Gas use Widespread (1990 AD)
Natural gas is an emerging form of electrical generation. Natural gas is a nonrenewable resource created from biological materials that went through a transformation over thousands of years. Refined natural gas is very efficient, clean burning, and inexpensive. This popular fuel source is being used in power plants in place of coal and oil because of its efficiency and cleanness. Although natural gas is an alternative now, it is a nonrenewable resource, and must be used carefully.
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 Victor Campos from Chile contributed:
I would like to help you with the translations. I am not an expert or something like that but if you like I can correct or modify what you have to give sense on your texts like this:
Albert Einstein nació en Ulm, Alemania la 14 de marzo de 1879. Cinco años más tarde, en 1884, él y su familia se trasladaron a Munich debido al nuevo trabajo de su padre. En 1901 lo naturalizaban como ciudadano suizo. Ocho años más tarde cuando Einstein era suizo a el le agradó el trabajo de su profesor de física teórica en la universidad de Zurich. A partir la 1911 a 1912 él tenía el mismo trabajo que un profesor en Praga. En 1913 lo eligieron para formar parte de la academia de ciencia en Berlín. Einstein recibió el reconocimiento de su pais natal Alemania obteniendo así la nacionalidad alemana en 1914. Él trabajó por 19 años como profesor en Berlín. A partir la 1920 a 1946 Él podía - oficialmente - ser profesor especial en Leiden, Holanda, también, pero debido a su emigración, él no trabajó para la universidad durante mucho tiempo antes de 1946. Debido al movimiento NAZI, Einstein renunció la ciudadanía alemana en 1933. Él se trasladó a los Estados Unidos y trabajó como profesor en Princeton, New Jersey hasta 1945. Él se hizo oficialmente americano en 1941. Albert Einstein murió el 18 de abril de 1955.
VCC
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Kirit M from India contributed:
to fuse two nuclei why don't we use the property that two similar charges moving in the same direction attract each other.
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Robert Michaels from United States contributed:
In the section concerning tools used circa 3,500 B.C., no mention was made of electricity. I saw a clay pot with two electrodes in it, with a wire connected to each electrode, dating back to 5,000 B.C. in the museum in Cairo, and another on Crete. So far, I have never seen any reports about this. Can anyone elaborate on this?
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Copyright © Team C004471 - The Energy Planet (ThinkQuest 2000)
Bibliography
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