Chapter 2 - Energy and the environment Flashcards
How is coal formed?
Huge forests grew millions of years ago that covered most of the earth. The vegetation died and formed peat. The peat was compressed between layers of sediments to form lignite which is a low-grade coal. This lignite is further compressed to form coal.
How is crude oil and natural gas formed?
Small animals and plants die and fall to the bottom of the ocean. Sediment covers their remains. As the sediment starts forming layers, they start to change into sandstone as the temperature and pressure increase. The heat and pressure turn the remains into crude oil and natural gas. They separate and rise through sandstone, filling the pores. The rock above the oil and gas layer is impermeable so they get trapped underneath it.
What are the three reasons that the demand for energy is increasing worldwide?
The demand for energy is increasing worldwide due to increasing population, increasing industrialization and urbanization and improvements in standards of living and expectations.
What are two characteristics of non renewable energy sources?
limited and takes millions of years to be replenished
What are two characteristics of renewable energy sources?
can be used over and over again and can be replenished in a short period of time
What are two examples of non renewable energy sources?
fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) and nuclear power using uranium
What are seven examples of renewable energy sources?
geothermal, hydroelectric, tidal, wave, wind, solar and biofuels (bioethanol, biogas and wood)
What is a turbine?
A turbine is a machine, often containing fins, which is made to revolve by gas, steam or air and is connected to a generator.
What is a generator?
A generator is a machine that coverts mechanical energy into electric energy.
What are fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels produce massive amounts of energy during combustion that is used to heat water and convert it into steam, which therefore drives the turbine includes coal oil and natural gas
What is nuclear power?
Nuclear power generates energy by using nuclear fission of uranium. This energy is used to heat the water, produce steam, and rotate the turbines.
What is geothermal power?
Geothermal power generates electricity as cold water is pumped under pressure into a layer of hot rocks, the rocks heat the water, the hot water returns to the surface under pressure and heats the second supply of water using a heat exchanger and then the steam produced in the second supply of water moves the turbine therefore generating electricity.
What is hydroelectric power?
Hydroelectric power uses a dam or a river to store water in a reservoir. Water is then released from the reservoir that flows through a turbine causing it to rotate which is attached to a generator that generates electricity.
What is tidal power?
Tidal power uses the natural rise and fall in the level of water in an area. When the water levels drop, water is help back by a tidal barrage which is a small dam that releases water back through a turbine.
What is wave power?
Wave power uses the smaller differences in water levels that are caused by the wind to push water through a turbine which is connected to a generator.
What is solar power?
Solar power uses photovoltaic cells that produced a small electric charge when exposed to light. A bank of cells organised into solar panels produces a significant amount of electricity.
What are biofuels?
Biofuels produce a massive amount of energy during combustion that is used to heat water and convert it into steam, where thereby drives the turbine. biowood, biogas and bioethanol
What are three advantages of fossil fuels as an energy source?
Plentiful supply in some locations. Extraction provides jobs. Existing technology as the fuel is available for most countries to use.
What are three disadvantages of fossil fuels as an energy source?
Carbon dioxide and toxic gases are produced during combustion which impacts climate change. Extraction causes damage to local area. Limited supply meaning prices will rise as the supply gets smaller.
What are three advantages of nuclear power as an energy source?
Does not produce carbon dioxide (impact on climate change). Small amount of fuel produces large amounts of energy. Power plants employ lots of people.
What are three disadvantages of nuclear power as an energy source?
Risk of radiation leakage which impacts human health and the environment.
Waste products cannot be recycled as radiation is active for centuries.
There is a limited supply.
What are three advantages of biofuels as an energy source?
A renewable source: bioethanol and wood are both obtained from growing plants, and biogas is obtained from the recycling of waste products.
Growing more plants uses carbon dioxide.
Potentially a plentiful supply.
What are three disadvantages of biofuels as an energy source?
Carbon dioxide and other toxic gases are produced during combustion. A lot of land is needed to grow crops for fuel. Potential removal of natural ecosystems to grow fuel crops.
What are two advantages of geothermal power as an energy source?
Does not produce carbon dioxide. Unlimited supply as uses the heat from the earth as a power source.
What are two disadvantages of geothermal power as an energy source?
Can be expensive to install. Only certain areas have suitable conditions.
What are two advantages of hydroelectric power as an energy source?
Does not produce carbon dioxide. Water can be reused for other purposes.
What are two disadvantages of hydroelectric power as an energy source?
Building of dams impacts the natural flow of water. Villages and ecosystems may be destroyed when dams and reservoirs are built.
What are two advantages of tidal power as an energy source?
Does not produce carbon dioxide. Tidal movements are not dependent on weather conditions.
What are two disadvantages of tidal power as an energy source?
Limited to specific coastal areas. Impacts on the tourism industry and local fisheries.
What are two advantages of wave power as an energy source?
Does not produce carbon dioxide. A renewable source of power.
What are two disadvantages of wave power as an energy source?
Limited to specific areas. Currently not efficient, so large amounts of resources are needed.
What are two advantages of solar power as an energy source?
Does not produce carbon dioxide. Sunlight is an unlimited resource.
What are four disadvantages of solar power as an energy source?
Only efficient under certain weather conditions. Generation only occurs is daylight hours. Visual impact and potential damage to local ecosystems.
What are two advantages of wind power as an energy source?
Does not produce carbon dioxide. Uses a renewable resource.
What are four disadvantages of wind power as an energy source?
Not all locations are suitable. Generation only occurs in certain conditions and at certain wind speeds. Visual impact. Uses a large area.
What is domestic demand for energy?
Domestic demand is created by affordability, availability, and social status. Most of the purchases that are considered as necessities now increase the demand for energy supplies, especially electricity.
What is industrial demand for energy?
Industrial demand means that manufacturing of goods requires the use of large amounts of energy throughout the production. Advanced manufacturing techniques made the products that were once luxury items significantly cheaper. Therefore, more people want to buy them, the demand for the product increase and the demand for energy needed for production also increases.
What is transport demand for energy?
Transport as manufacturers need to supply to customers across the globe. This decreases production costs in countries that import but increase the transport costs as they require large amounts of fossil fuels to operate.
How does the personal and national wealth affect the demand for energy?
Personal and national wealth means that if economic conditions are good there will be higher employment, more money to spend on luxury items, increase in demand for the product and increase in the demand for energy for production. However, if economic conditions are poor, families will have less money to spend on luxury items and they need to make savings which reduces the use of fuel, reducing the purchasing and use of electrical items and decreases the demand for energy. A decline in the economy of one country can have a global impact.
How does the climate affect the demand for energy?
Climate means that the demand for energy will depend on a country’s climate. People living in a temperate climate are likely to experience colder winders so the demand for heating would be far higher. They also experience fewer hours of daylight which increase the usage of electrical lighting. Climate change increased the energy consumption due to the need for additional heating of the installation and operating of air conditioning units.
What are the five ways to conserve and manage energy resources?
reducing consumption, energy from waste, exploiting existing energy sources, education, and transport policies
How does reducing consumption conserve and manage energy resources?
Reducing consumption e.g. using inflation, double glazing/triple glazing to reduce the energy used to heat a building, turning off electric devices that aren’t in use, using more energy efficient devices, developing alternatives for fuel and further development in engine technology.
How does using energy from waste conserve and manage energy resources?
Energy from waste means reusing existing materials to extract energy from them before they are disposed. E.g. anaerobic digestion which is the breaking down of organic matter using bacteria produces methane which is a flammable gas that can be used for heating purposes. Composted waste can be used as organic matter to improve soil structure. Household rubbish can be burnt to produce heat which can be used to generate electricity. Vegetable oils can be collected and recycled into biofuels suitable for vehicles.
How does exploiting existing energy sources conserve and manage energy resources?
Exploiting existing energy sources as the type of energy source used depends on the social, environmental, and economic factors. The current solution is to use a renewable resource as a primary energy source when possible and have a fossil fuel or biofuel powered station available as a backup when weather conditions are not suitable. This is a reliable source for industry and households and reduces the amount of fossil fuels used.
How does education conserve and manage energy resources?
Education can be used to communicate the benefits of technology, promotes new ways of thinking, providing energy efficiency ratings, stricter regulations, laws passed by the government, incentives to encourage the purchasing of more efficient technologies, insulating homes, replacing old and inefficient electronics, and scrapping older inefficient technologies.
How do transport policies conserve and manage energy resources?
Transport policies such as regulations regarding the quality of exhaust gases from vehicles, checks on fuel efficiency, restricting where vehicles can go, taxation on fuels, surcharges for travelling at peak times, improving public transport, improving routes for cyclists and pedestrians, encouraging carpooling, restricting when cars can be used, providing incentives to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles and vehicles using cleaner technology.
What is fracking?
Fracking is obtaining oil or gas from shale rock by splitting them open using water, sand, and chemicals. A vertical hole (2-3km deep) is drilled to reach the fuel-rich rocks (shale rocks). Water, sand, and chemicals are pumped down into the shale rock layer which causes the rock to fracture, releasing oil and natural gas which are forced back to the surface and collected. Water is used as it is easy to handle in high pressure. Chemicals are used to stop the blockage of pipes. Sand is used as it keeps the cracks in the rocks open.
What are three advantages of fracking?
Access to more oil and gas
Less pollution than burning coal
The need to import reduces
What are six disadvantages of fracking?
Risk of toxins entering the water table
Chemicals are toxic and may affect local residents
Uses a lot of water which may cause water scarcity
Noise pollution
Damage to natural areas
May cause earth tremors
What are the three main causes of marine oil spills?
The main causes of marine oil spills are offshore oil extraction which leaks from the rigs, oil pipelines that leak and shipping as there is a risk of collision or damage to oil tankers.
What are phytoplankton?
Microscopic organisms living in the seawater with the ability to photosynthesise. They provide food for many larger organisms.
How does oil impact phytoplankton?
Oil floats on the surface of the water and blocks the sunlight from entering. The phytoplankton can’t photosynthesise, so they die.
What are fish?
Different species are present throughout the oceans, some feed on phytoplankton and some prey on other fish. They are food for mammals and birds.
How does oil impact fish?
Shortage of food; reduction in phytoplankton. Oil floating on water surface prevents gas exchange. Fish become short of oxygen and die. Fish are also affected by the oil through direct contact, which affects their gills.