chapter 6 energy resources

Question 1

non-renewable energy resources

Answer 1

gas, coal, oil
advantages:
-reliable
-releases a great deal of energy
-abundant
-cheap
-versatile
disadvantages:
-releases harmful greenhouse gases
-non-renewable
-acid rain

Question 2

wind power

Answer 2

each turbine has a generator inside of it, the rotating blades turn the generator and produce electricity

Question 3

wind power advantages and disadvantages

Answer 3

advantages:
-renewable
-doesn’t release harmful greenhouse gases
disadvantages:
-very noisy
-unreliable
-spoils the view
-initial costs are high

Question 4

solar cells

Answer 4

generate electric currents directly from sunlight, often in remote places

Question 5

solar cells advantages and disadvantages

Answer 5

advantages:
-no pollution
-reliable
disadvantages:
-initial costs are high
cant increase power output

Question 6

geothermal power

Answer 6

-the slow decay of radioactive elements, such as uranium
-possible in volcanic areas, or where rocks lie near the surface

Question 7

geothermal power advantages and disadvantages

Answer 7

advantages:
-reliable
-little damage to environment
disadvantages:
-aren’t many suitable locations
-high building costs

Question 8

hydroelectric power

Answer 8

-requires the flooding of a valley by building a big dam

Question 9

hydroelectric power advantages and disadvantages

Answer 9

advantages:
-immediate response, for an increased demand of electricity
-reliable
-no fuel costs, minimal running costs
disadvantages:
-initial costs are high
-can affect nearby animal and plant life

Question 10

nuclear power

Answer 10

-takes energy from atoms
-energy is released is when the nucleus of uranium atoms are unstable and split into two
-the energy of the core is transferred by a fluid (the coolant)
-the energy transferred by the coolant is used to turn water into steam in the heat exchanger and the steam drives turbines that turn electricty generators

Question 11

wave power

Answer 11

-uses the waves to make a floating generator so it generates elctricity
-a cable between the generator and the shoreline delivers electricty to the grid system

Question 12

disadvantages of wave power

Answer 12

-cables can ruin areas of coastline
-doesnt produce constant supply of electricty
-tidal flow patterns may change affecting the habitats of marine life and birds

Question 13

tidal power

Answer 13

-traps water from each high tide behind a barrge, the high tide can then be relased into the sea through turbines
-turbines drive generators in the barrage

Question 14

advanatages and disadvanatges of nuclear power

Answer 14

AD:
- no greenhouse gases
-much more energy released from each KG of uranium
D:
-radioactive waste has to be stored for centuries
-an explosion could release radioactive material over a wide area