Impacts of transport on the greenhouse effect
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can compare the impact of different types of transport on global warming.
Key learning points
- Burning fuels for transport produces greenhouse gases, other pollutant gases, and particulates.
- Petrol and diesel vehicles burn fuels, while electric vehicles do not, but fuels may be burned to generate electricity.
- The energy use of planes, trains, cars, ships, and buses can be compared.
- Vehicles use energy and resources during manufacturing.
- Parts of vehicles may become waste at the end of their useful lives.
Keywords
Greenhouse gases - gases in the atmosphere that keep it warmer than it would be without them
Particulates - solid particles and liquid droplets in the air
Contrail - the white cloud-like trail behind an aeroplane made of ice crystals
Recycle - to convert waste material into new products
Common misconception
Greenhouse gases are only emitted in the life of a vehicle when it is moving.
Discuss greenhouse gas emissions caused by the extraction of resources, production of materials, manufacturing of parts and the vehicle itself, as well as the recycling and disposal of the vehicle at the end of its life.
Teacher tip
This lesson is intended to include comparisons only between powered common types of transport. The emphasis is deliberately limited to the differences in greenhouse gas emissions, their causes, and, in the case of contrails, other factors that affect the greenhouse effect.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the words about the greenhouse effect with their definitions.
layer of gases that surrounds a planet
a greenhouse gas made by burning fuel
releases of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
atmospheric gases keeping Earth warmer than it would be without them
Q2.What is the increase in Earth’s temperature above what is has been for many thousands of years called?
Q3.What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?
Q4.What is the name given to the average weather conditions in a country or region?
Q5.What would happen to Earth’s average temperature if the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increased less quickly than it is now?
Q6.What would happen to Earth’s average temperature if the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere started to decrease?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What are tiny particles of solids or droplets of liquids in the air called?
Q2.What are some of the advantages of electric cars?
Q3.How do electric cars cause some greenhouse gas emissions?
Q4.What word describes what happens to over 85% of a car at the end of its life?
Q5.Order the forms of transport for a family of four travelling from London to Paris, starting with the one that emits the least amount of greenhouse gases.
Q6.What to aeroplanes produce that increases the greenhouse effect?
To help you plan your 8 science lesson on: Impacts of transport on the greenhouse effect, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 science lesson on: Impacts of transport on the greenhouse effect, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Climate change and greenhouse gases unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.