Investigating the efficiency of air-source heat pumps in the secondary school physics laboratory

Daniel Cottle; Robert Campbell

doi:10.1088/1361-6552/ad0d0c

Investigating the efficiency of air-source heat pumps in the secondary school physics laboratory

Daniel Cottle^*, Robert Campbell

^*Corresponding author for this work

Teacher Education

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

This paper presents an experimental method for investigating the coefficient of performance of air-source heat pumps for secondary age children and links this to ideas about energy efficiency. It was developed and trialled in a secondary school in the West Midlands of England in response to literature that reveals climate anxiety to be increasing amongst young people around the world and their resulting desire to take action. Links are made to the topic of energy efficiency in the current physics school curriculum in England which is used, where possible, to explain the results of the investigation with suggestions for where extensions might be made in future to facilitate a more complete understanding by pupils. Links to wider societal change in the decarbonisation of home heating in the UK as part of the national response to climate change are explored and an argument is made for the viability and necessity of including the technology of air-source heats pumps in the physics curriculum for all children.

Original language	English
Article number	015023
Number of pages	9
Journal	Physics Education
Volume	59
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6552/ad0d0c
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2023

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgments:
This Project was funded by a Royal Society Partnership Grant. The authors also wish to express their thanks to Sharon Giles, physics laboratory technician in the school where the project was conducted.

Keywords

physics education
air source heat pump
energy efficiency
thermodynamics
climate change
Secondary education

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Physics and Astronomy
Education

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1088/1361-6552/ad0d0cLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

CottleD2023InvestigatingFinal published version, 1.18 MBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

1 Conference, workshop or symposium
1 Collaboration

Addressing Climate Anxiety with Physics - How do heat pumps work?
Cottle, D. (Presenter)
4 Oct 2024
Activity: Academic and Industrial events › Conference, workshop or symposium

File
The Royal Society
Cottle, D. (Advisor) & Campbell, R. (Contributor)
1 Sept 2022 → 31 Dec 2024
Activity: Collaboration with an external institution or individual › Collaboration

Change the national curriculum in science to empower climate action
Cottle, D.
19/12/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media

Cite this

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abstract = "This paper presents an experimental method for investigating the coefficient of performance of air-source heat pumps for secondary age children and links this to ideas about energy efficiency. It was developed and trialled in a secondary school in the West Midlands of England in response to literature that reveals climate anxiety to be increasing amongst young people around the world and their resulting desire to take action. Links are made to the topic of energy efficiency in the current physics school curriculum in England which is used, where possible, to explain the results of the investigation with suggestions for where extensions might be made in future to facilitate a more complete understanding by pupils. Links to wider societal change in the decarbonisation of home heating in the UK as part of the national response to climate change are explored and an argument is made for the viability and necessity of including the technology of air-source heats pumps in the physics curriculum for all children.",

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AB - This paper presents an experimental method for investigating the coefficient of performance of air-source heat pumps for secondary age children and links this to ideas about energy efficiency. It was developed and trialled in a secondary school in the West Midlands of England in response to literature that reveals climate anxiety to be increasing amongst young people around the world and their resulting desire to take action. Links are made to the topic of energy efficiency in the current physics school curriculum in England which is used, where possible, to explain the results of the investigation with suggestions for where extensions might be made in future to facilitate a more complete understanding by pupils. Links to wider societal change in the decarbonisation of home heating in the UK as part of the national response to climate change are explored and an argument is made for the viability and necessity of including the technology of air-source heats pumps in the physics curriculum for all children.

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KW - energy efficiency

KW - thermodynamics

KW - climate change

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Investigating the efficiency of air-source heat pumps in the secondary school physics laboratory

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Activities

Addressing Climate Anxiety with Physics - How do heat pumps work?

The Royal Society

Press/Media

Change the national curriculum in science to empower climate action

Cite this