Total

Energy

Background Information

Often our decisions are made based on preferences, habit, or social convenience or social pressures rather than on rational decision making.

Since biking is the most efficient form of transportation available, biking rather than using a car or even walking would be a rational decision.

In this activity, students will:

• Explore the energy use of various forms of transportation;

• Compare the various forms of transportation available;

• Determine which is the most efficient (which uses the least energy per mile traveled);

• Consider the reasons behind using of not using these forms; and

• Propose how they could encourage each other and be encouraged to use rational decision making in choosing which transportation alternative to use.

Total Energy

Student Activities

1. Using information from Appendix E:

a. Compare energy used per mile for:

• Pickup truck: _______
• SUV: _______
• Small car: _______
• Biker: _______
• Walker: _______

b. Which is most efficient? __________

c. How much gas would be saved if an individual:

• walked instead of drove? _______ per mile
• biked instead of drive? _______ per mile

d. Why don't teens like to bike? Is it:

• "uncool"?
• time consuming?
• not efficient (bike trails for recreation, not transportation)?

2. Devise an ad campaign to influence teens to bike (to school, movies, etc.).

a. Include:

• Social incentives
• Convenience
• Cost

b. Determine your audience (fellow students, family, the general public).

c. Decide how you will inform them (poster, public service announcements on radio and TV, a newspaper article or letter to editor, as assembly, etc.).

d. Present your campaign.

Total Energy

Teacher Notes

Energy use for various methods of transportation is presented in several formats: BTUs, calories, and mpg. Work with the unit of energy that your class generally uses.

Encourage discussions about

• Why students hesitate to use a bike (both social and transportation reasons)
• How teens could encourage each other and be encouraged to use bikes.

Interdisciplinary Approach: Math, Environmental Studies, and World History.