4.4 Energy And The Environment

Question 1

Why are we slowly running low of the non renewable energy sources?

Answer 1

We are using more than we are making

Question 2

How long until oil and gas are expected to run out?

Answer 2

50 years

Question 3

How can we reduce the amount of sulphur dioxide we release when burning fossil fuels?

Answer 3

Remove sulphur from the fuel before burning it

Question 4

How can we reduce the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere?

Answer 4

Capture it and store it in old oil and gas fields

Question 5

Name 2 advantages and 3 disadvantages of burning coal for fuel

Answer 5

Ad: bigger reserves than gas and oil, reliable
Dis: non renewable, produces co2 and so2

Question 6

Name 1 advantage and 3 disadvantages of burning oil for fuel

Answer 6

Ad: reliable
Dis: non renewable, produces co2 and so2

Question 7

Name 1 advantage and 2 disadvantages of burning gas for fuel

Answer 7

Ad: reliable
Dis: non renewable, produces co2

Question 8

Name 3 advantages and 4 disadvantages of nuclear power

Answer 8

Ad: no production of polluting gases, reliable, more energy per kilogram than fossil fuels
Dis: no renewable, produces hazardous nuclear waste which is difficult to dispose of safely, small risk of big nuclear accident, expensive

Question 9

Name 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of wind power

Answer 9

Ad: renewable, doesn’t produce harmful gases, free energy resource
Dis: requires many large turbines, not reliable, eyesore

Question 10

Name 4 advantages and 2 disadvantages of hydroelectric power

Answer 10

Ad: renewable, reliable in wet areas, no harmful gases released, free energy source
Dis: only works in wet and hilly areas, damming the areas causes flooding and affects the local ecology

Question 11

Name 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of wave power

Answer 11

Ad: renewable, no production of greenhouse gases, free energy resource
Dis: can be hazardous to boats, not reliable, eyesore

Question 12

Name 4 advantages and 2 disadvantages of tidal power

Answer 12

Ad: renewable, reliable, no greenhouse gases produced, free energy resource
Dis: only a few river estuaries are suitable, building a barrage makes the tide higher so affects the local ecology

Question 13

Name 4 advantages and 3 disadvantages of solar power

Answer 13

Ad: renewable, no greenhouse gases produced, reliable in the daytime in hot countries, free energy resource
Dis: solar cells only produce small amount of energy, unreliable in less sunny countries or at night or in winter, expensive to buy

Question 14

Name 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of geothermal energy

Answer 14

Ad: renewable, no greenhouse gases produced, free energy resource
Dis: only economical viable in very few places, drilling through large depth of rock is expensive and difficult, energy is lost whilst the steam travels up through the pipe

Question 15

Name 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of biofuel power

Answer 15

Ad: they are carbon neutral, reliable
Dis: take a long time to grow, destroys rain forests to grow biofuels

Question 16

Name 4 types of non renewable energy resources?

Answer 16

• coal
• oil
• gas
• uranium

Question 17

What type of area would be most suitable for a wind farm?

Answer 17

A large flat area of high ground

Question 18

What is the difference between a renewable energy resource and a non renewable energy resource?

Answer 18

Renewable = produced as fast as it is used

Non renewable = used faster than it is made

Question 19

Which gas, released by the burning of coal, causes acid rain?

Answer 19

Sulphur dioxide