Comparative Energy Sources Flashcards
1
Q
Fossil fuels - main source - renewable or not - transport - reliability - environmental impact
A
- Coal, oil, gas burnt to produce thermal energy store
- Non renewable
- Powers vehicles, electricity generation, heats steam to turn turbines, heating and cooking
- Reliable, fuels burn easily
- Carbon dioxide and pollutants eg sulphur dioxide - greenhouse gases rise into atmosphere creating acidic rain
2
Q
Nuclear fuel
A
- Uranium and plutonium produce thermal store from nuclear fission
- Non renewable
- Electricity to heat steam to turn turbines
- Reliable but takes a long time to start producing
- Releases radioactive waste can be harmful and takes many years to become safe
3
Q
Wind
A
- Moving air in atmosphere
- Renewable
- Electricity as moving air turns turbines
- Not reliable depends on wind
- No impact save small noise and visual pollution
4
Q
Biofuel
A
- Chemical store in plant, animal or waste can be burnt to produce thermal store to produce methane burnt to produce thermal store
- Renewable
- Fuel for cars, electricity generation, heats steam to turn turbines, heating and cooking
- Reliable, easy to re grow and saves famine
- Carbon neutral, plants take CO2 out of atmosphere
5
Q
Hydroelectricity
A
- Gravitational store in water, in lakes or kinetic store rivers
- Renewable
- Electricity generation turns turbines
- Reliable save for droughts
- Large reservoirs can affect plant and animal life including humans
6
Q
Geothermal
A
- Hot volcanic rocks below surface cold water flows down and heated by rocks
- Renewable
- Electricity generation steam can turn turbines, heating
- Reliable
- No impact on environment
7
Q
Tides
A
- Tides spin turbines by water flow
- Renewable
- Electricity generation moving water turns turbines
- Reliable tides twice a day but flow can be variable
5 affects marine life as barrage needed blocking movement of life and may flood or change wildlife habitats
8
Q
Sun
A
1 sun heats earth surface, plants photosynthesise the plants chemical store
2 renewable
3 solar power cars, electricity generation, solar cells produce electricity useful in remote locations, heating water
4 not reliable but good in sunny areas during daylight
5 no impact
9
Q
Water waves
A
- Wave energy produced with buoy, turns turbines
2 renewable
3 electricity generation turns turbine
4 not reliable - depending on sea conditions
5 no impact