4.1.3 National and global energy resources

Question 1

What are the main energy resources on Earth?

Answer 1

Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), nuclear fuel, bio-fuel, and renewable sources (wind, hydroelectricity, geothermal, tides, Sun, water waves).

Question 2

What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy?

Answer 2

Renewable energy is replenished as used (e.g., wind, solar, bio-fuel), while non-renewable energy has a finite supply (e.g., fossil fuels, nuclear fuel).

Question 3

What are the uses of energy resources?

Answer 3

Transport (fuels for cars, planes, and ships), electricity generation (power stations, solar panels), and heating (gas boilers, geothermal, biofuels).

Question 4

How reliable are different energy resources?

Answer 4

Fossil fuels and nuclear are very reliable, while renewables depend on weather conditions (e.g., wind, solar).

Question 5

What is the environmental impact of energy resources?

Answer 5

Fossil fuels cause air pollution and greenhouse gases, nuclear produces radioactive waste, and renewables have low emissions but land use concerns.

Question 6

What are the trends in energy resource use?

Answer 6

There is a shift towards renewables due to climate concerns, but some countries still rely on fossil fuels for stability.

Question 7

How does science relate to environmental issues?

Answer 7

Science identifies issues (e.g., global warming), but solutions are limited by political, social, ethical, and economic factors.