• Question: What new things can energy be used for in the future in your opinion

    Asked by 565enek22 to Emma, Karla, Shane, Stephen, Yang on 7 Nov 2017.
    • Photo: Emma Hanley

      Emma Hanley answered on 7 Nov 2017:


      I believe it could be used for high-speed, safe transport.

    • Photo: Karla Dussan

      Karla Dussan answered on 7 Nov 2017:


      @Emma’s example is one of the most important ones for the future, I think. I would also like to see also that energy can be stored in the future in even smaller devices and recharged on the go, with solar energy, so that we can almost go around without cables for anything… Technology is going towards that, I think!

    • Photo: Stephen Rhatigan

      Stephen Rhatigan answered on 7 Nov 2017:


      Energy will always be used for transport, light, heat and powering our technology. In the future we will produce, store and use energy in smarter and more efficient ways.
      One example might involve piezoelectricity. When you put pressure or stress on a piezoelectric material an electric current starts to flow in the material.
      Now imagine a road that has piezoelectric materials under the surface of the tarmac. Vehicles traveling on the road will exert a pressure which will cause electricity to flow in the piezoelectric devices.
      In this way some of the kinetic (moving) energy of the vehicle is converted to electrical energy which can be reused.
      We need to develop strategies to maximize efficiency and minimize waste.

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