4.1.3 National and global energy resources

Question 1

What is a renewable energy resource?

Answer 1

An energy source which can be replenished as it is being used up

Question 2

Give four examples of renewable energy resources

Answer 2

1. Wind energy
2. Hydro-electricity
3. Tidal energy
4. Solar energy

Question 3

Give an example of a non-renewable energy resource

Answer 3

Fossil fuels

Question 4

What are the advantages of generating power using gas rather than coal?

Answer 4

• Flexible generation: gas power stations have short start-up times so can be switched on/off more regularly.
• Lower emissions of Carbon dioxide

Question 5

State two disadvantages of using renewable energy resources to generate power

Answer 5

• Output often determined by external factors (like wind speed), so supply is uncertain.
• Generating power through other means is often more efficient and economically beneficial.

Question 6

Explain the environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels

Answer 6

• Carbon dioxide contributes to the greenhouse effect, and causes global warming
• Sulphur dioxide leads to acid rain, which can damage buildings and crops

Question 7

State three advantages of fossil fuels as an energy resource

Answer 7

1. Reliable: not dependent on external factors so can generate power anytime
2. Can produce large amounts of energy for a given quantity
3. Still relatively abundant so cost-effective

Question 8

State three advantages of nuclear power

Answer 8

1. Very large amounts of energy for relatively small quantities of fuel
2. Doesn’t release greenhouse gases and so doesn’t contribute to climate change
3. Low fuel costs

Question 9

State three disadvantages of nuclear power

Answer 9

1. Produces nuclear waste which is harmful to humans & must be safely stored for centuries
2. Non-renewable energy source
3. Risk of nuclear accidents, which have fatal consequences on humans and the environment.

Question 9

How does hydroelectric power produce energy?

Answer 9

• Rainwater collects behind a dam
• When this water is released, it is used to turn a turbine
• This turbine turns a generator which produces electricity

Question 10

What are some disadvantages of using biofuels?

Answer 10

• When plants are burned or decay they release Carbon dioxide
• In order to grow biofuels, you need to destroy land which leads to problems because: 1) The land could have been natural habitats
  2) destroying land may involve burning plants growing on it, which would release carbon dioxide
• Growing biofuels reduces the land available for growing food

Question 11

What are the advantages of tidal energy sources?

Answer 11

• They do not produce Greenhouse gases
• They are quite reliable, as tides happen twice a day
• They are cheap to run as tides are natural, and so are free

Question 12

What are the disadvantages of hydroelectric power?

Answer 12

• The dam may cause
  flooding
• It can cost a lot to install the required infrastructure

Question 13

What are some advantages of solar panels?

Answer 13

• They don’t cause harm to the environment
• They are a renewable resource
• They can be used in remote areas where other types of energy are less accessible.

Question 14

Give examples of social factors which may act as a deterrent for certain types of energy production

Answer 14

• Visual pollution
• Sound pollution