Geothermal Energy Lab
Classroom worksheet · Interactive simulation: https://lkforge.com/tools/physics/geothermal/
Name: Date:
Learning objectives
- Explain how geothermal energy is extracted.
- Relate output to the underground temperature gradient.
- Describe heat transfer from rock to fluid.
Variables to change
- Well depth
- Rock temperature gradient
- Flow rate
Procedure
- Set a depth and note the temperature of the extracted fluid.
- Increase the depth and observe the temperature rise.
- Change the flow rate and observe the effect on extracted power.
Observations
Record extracted temperature and power versus depth and flow rate.
Questions
- Where does geothermal energy come from?
- How does temperature change with depth?
- Why does deeper drilling generally help?
- How is the heat carried to the surface?
- Is geothermal energy renewable?
Answer key (instructors)
- 1. Heat stored in the Earth’s interior, conducted up through the crust.
- 2. It rises with depth (the geothermal gradient, ~25–30 °C per km on average).
- 3. Deeper rock is hotter, so the extracted fluid carries more usable heat.
- 4. A working fluid (water/steam) is heated by contact with hot rock and pumped up.
- 5. Effectively yes, if heat is extracted no faster than it is replenished from below.
Geothermal energy taps the Earth’s internal heat, which increases with depth along the geothermal gradient. A working fluid heated by hot rock carries energy to the surface; drawing heat sustainably keeps it renewable.