Wind Early
Coal Late
Nuclear Early
Gas Early
Others in 2020
Solar Late
Oil Late
Names
Oil Early
Coal Early
Reset Graph
Wind Late
Title
Nuclear Late
Gas late
Connections to Standards
In this interactive    you learned about reading line graphs     and you explored long term trends    in energy cost.
So… you be the judge.     What do you predict the trend will be      over the next 20 years?
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What else would        you like to know?
    a line graph    is a graphic way    of representing data    with a line that traces    across an x/y grid    It is especially helpful      when looking at trends over time
The Mystery Graph
      The activities in this interactive        will help you learn more      about trends in energy costs over time.
Trends over Time
  In this interactive,     you will explore long-term trends     for several different types of energy.   Pay attention to what happens     to the cost of each type of energy     over time.
A question to consider
Roll your pointer   over any printed line  to get more information.
     Based on this graph:   What do you predict the trend will be       over the next 20 years?
What is a line graph?
Nuclear
After reading these descriptions,    drag the label to the proper line.   - This is a way       to generate electricity       in small towns        and remote locations,       but it is much more expensive       that the other two sources.   - This was the least expensive way          to generate electricity         throughout the 20th century.   - This was a good choice in 1980,        but it became more expensive        as people began to recognize        the costs of waste disposal        and risks of accidents.
Oil
Coal
See graphs of energy production in the US and the world
Go Back to Portal
See a good graph, and an equation that shows us  why a graph is a good way to see the results!
See graphs that show trends in amounts of electricity   generated by different sources, as well as costs.
See a graph of estimated electricity costs in 2017,    showing the advantages of existing technology.    (Note: report published in 2012, using 2011 data.)
Learn more by exploring additional resources
Correct! Click anywhere to advance! 
The new line on the graph    (light blue dots)   shows the cost of natural gas   as a way to generate electricity. How would you describe its trend through time? Drag this marker to show the time    when natural gas became cheaper    than nuclear energy as a way    to generate electricity.
Incorrect! Click anywhere to try again!
How to Use this Interactive
Jump To Clickable Graph
Trends, Shifts, and Cycles
Cost of Electricity
Let’s extend the lines to show   what happened between 2000 and 2020. Which statement is false:
- Nuclear energy continued to        get more expensive    through time.
- Oil remained the most        expensive way      to generate electricity.  
- Fracking technology      kept the price of natural gas low      while the other sources      all became more expensive.
- Coal remained the cheapest       way to generate electricity.
N
The new green line shows     the cost to generate electricity     with wind generators (turbines)     like the one in the picture. Drag these markers to the dates    where wind turbines      became cheaper    than nuclear reactors (N)    and coal-fired powerplants (C).
C
- Coal remains the least expensive way to generate electricity.
- Solar collectors became cheaper        than nuclear reactors about 2010
- Solar energy requires batteries        or other ways to store energy    for when the sun isn’t shining.
The yellow circles represent   the cost of generating electricity   with solar collectors. Making electricity with solar energy    is a rapidly changing technology. It was extremely expensive     throughout the 20th century. Which statement is false?