Year Level: | |
Industry Focus: | |
Technologies used: | |
Max Students: | 50 students per day |
Duration: | 9.30am-2.30pam |
Booking Eligibility: | Open only to KIOSC partner schools |
Introduction
The KIOSC Green Energy Revolution program is an innovative educational initiative that empowers students to explore the future of clean energy. Through a series of engaging workshops, students will delve into the fundamental principles of energy transformation and hydrogen production. By conducting hands-on experiments, such as water electrolysis, students will gain a deep understanding of hydrogen’s potential as a sustainable energy carrier. This program aligns with the Victorian Curriculum in Science, Digital Technologies, Humanities, and Critical and Creative Thinking.
This program is a launch for the Horizon Car GRAND PRIX. The is an annual event for partner schools to compete in global competition where the winners from the Victorian Regional Competition will head overseas to compete on an International Stage.
Program Outline
Hydrogen Revolution
In this workshop, learners will explore how hydrogen can be produced and used as a fuel. They will gain hands-on experience with the process of electrolysis, understanding the role of electrodes, the flow of electric current, and the chemical reactions involved. The workshop will begin with an introduction to hydrogen’s potential as a clean and sustainable energy source, followed by a detailed explanation of the electrolysis process. In the laboratory session, students will set up an electrolyser, produce hydrogen and oxygen gases, and test for hydrogen using the pop test. They will identify the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen and complete a balanced chemical equation. The workshop will conclude with a discussion on the results and the future potential of hydrogen as a fuel, providing both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Beyond Fossil Fuels
In this workshop, students will delve into the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel source for transportation, comparing it to current fossil fuels. They will learn how a hydrogen fuel cell converts chemical energy from hydrogen into electrical energy to power a vehicle. The hands-on component involves constructing a model hydrogen fuel cell car, using the appropriate materials and tools to assemble both the car and the fuel cell components. Students will produce their own hydrogen using an onboard electrolyser and test the car’s capacity by running it until the hydrogen is depleted. Additionally, they will analyse factors that may affect the performance of the fuel cell car, such as temperature and energy losses, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the practical applications and challenges of hydrogen fuel technology.
Hydrogen Car Prototype
In this workshop, students will build on the principles learned in the morning sessions to design and engineer their own hydrogen-powered cars. They will use recyclable materials such as cardboard and plastic bottles to create the chassis of the car. The kit includes a reverse fuel cell that will generate hydrogen to fuel the car. After assembling their cars, students will race them, each with 20ml of hydrogen on board, to see which design can travel the greatest distance. This hands-on activity not only reinforces their understanding of hydrogen fuel technology but also encourages creativity and practical problem-solving skills.
Prototype Designs:
