Electricity Flashcards
Explain the useful and wasted outputs in the process of generating electricity.
Energy inputs: Heat & chemical
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Boiler ➡️ Wasted: Heat, sound, light
⬇️ Useful: kinetic
Turbine ➡️ Wasted: Heat, sound
⬇️ Useful: Kinetic
Generator ➡️ Wasted: Heat, sound
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Useful outputs: ElectricalExplain the process of generating electricity.
Fossil fuel: Gas, oil or coal are burnt to heat water
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Water: Heated by the fossil fuels to create steam
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Steam: High pressure steam piped from heated water makes turbines turn.
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Turbine: Makes steam move in circular motion to spin generator.
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Generator: Copper coil spins past magnets to generate electricity.
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Cooling: Steam is recycled back to water to be reused.
Disadvantages of using fossil fuels in power stations.
CO2 from burning fuel contributes to global warming which caused flooding.
Non-renewable
Sulphur dioxide causes acid rain
Explain what a tidal barrage does to turn a generator and advantages and disadvantages to fossil fuels.
Water flows through a big dam and turns the turbine.
Advantages:
1. Free once installed
2. Allows ships to pass
Disadvantages:
1. Expensive to build
2. Doesn’t make enough electricity (only about 10 hours)
Explain what solar power does to turn a generator and advantages and disadvantages to fossil fuels.
Doesn't need to turn generator. Advantages: 1. Free after installation 2. Everyday items can be powered by solar panels Disadvantages: 1. Only works on a sunny day 2. Expensive
Explain what geothermal energy does to turn a generator and advantages and disadvantages to fossil fuels.
Hot rocks underground heat up water to produce steam. The steam rises up and is used to drive the turbines.
Advantages:
1. Natural resource
2. No energy wasted
Disadvantage:
1. In extreme situations can cause earthquakes
2. Location specific
Explain what wind energy does to turn a generator and advantages and disadvantages to fossil fuels.
The wind blows and spins blades which turn a shaft connected to the generator.
Advantages:
1. Free once installed
2. No CO2 produced
Disadvantages
1. If there’s no wind there’s no energy - it can’t be stored
2. Have to be built in remote areas - there’s a fight for land
Explain what wave energy does to turn a generator and advantages and disadvantages to fossil fuels.
Boys bob up and down to turn the turbine inside. Advantages: 1. Can produce vast amounts of energy 2. No CO2 produced Disadvantages: 1. Unreliable 2. Very expensive
Explain the process of how the National Grid gets electricity to homes.
- The power station burns fossil fuels.
- Electricity generated and sent to step up transformer.
- Voltage increased to 132kW therefore current is less and less energy is lost as heat when electricity is being transferred down the cables.
- High voltage electricity carried to pylons.
- Electricity travels through high wires.
- Electricity sent to step-down transformer.
- Electricity is delivered to homes at a safe voltage so you don’t get electrocuted.
How is heat released from coal?
More energy, dense, much longer to form. Burning fuels to release energy.
How is heat released from nuclear?
Uranium or plutonium from nuclear power stations release energy when atoms split. Energy transferred by fluid.
How is heat released from biomass?
Any fuel taken from a living or recently living thing such as animal waste and woodchips is burnt.
Advantages and disadvantages of coal
The world has vast reserves of coal, which are more widely distributed than oil & gas.
Coal is easily stored.
Reliable.
Unrenewable.
Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power
Long construction time. High-known risks in an accident.
Low operating cost.
Known developed tech “ready” for market.
Reliable
Unrenewable.
Advantages and disadvantages of biomass
Causes air pollution - burning
High initial cost
Can produce solid, liquid or gaseous fuels
