Comparative Energy Sources

Question 1

Fossil fuels - main source - renewable or not - transport - reliability - environmental impact

Answer 1

1. Coal, oil, gas burnt to produce thermal energy store
2. Non renewable
3. Powers vehicles, electricity generation, heats steam to turn turbines, heating and cooking
4. Reliable, fuels burn easily
5. Carbon dioxide and pollutants eg sulphur dioxide - greenhouse gases rise into atmosphere creating acidic rain

Question 2

Nuclear fuel

Answer 2

1. Uranium and plutonium produce thermal store from nuclear fission
2. Non renewable
3. Electricity to heat steam to turn turbines
4. Reliable but takes a long time to start producing
5. Releases radioactive waste can be harmful and takes many years to become safe

Question 3

Wind

Answer 3

1. Moving air in atmosphere
2. Renewable
3. Electricity as moving air turns turbines
4. Not reliable depends on wind
5. No impact save small noise and visual pollution

Question 4

Biofuel

Answer 4

1. Chemical store in plant, animal or waste can be burnt to produce thermal store to produce methane burnt to produce thermal store
2. Renewable
3. Fuel for cars, electricity generation, heats steam to turn turbines, heating and cooking
4. Reliable, easy to re grow and saves famine
5. Carbon neutral, plants take CO2 out of atmosphere

Question 5

Hydroelectricity

Answer 5

1. Gravitational store in water, in lakes or kinetic store rivers
2. Renewable
3. Electricity generation turns turbines
4. Reliable save for droughts
5. Large reservoirs can affect plant and animal life including humans

Question 6

Geothermal

Answer 6

1. Hot volcanic rocks below surface cold water flows down and heated by rocks
2. Renewable
3. Electricity generation steam can turn turbines, heating
4. Reliable
5. No impact on environment

Question 7

Tides

Answer 7

1. Tides spin turbines by water flow
2. Renewable
3. Electricity generation moving water turns turbines
4. 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

Question 8

Sun

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Water waves

Answer 9

1. Wave energy produced with buoy, turns turbines
   2 renewable
   3 electricity generation turns turbine
   4 not reliable - depending on sea conditions
   5 no impact