energy Flashcards
What is the difference between renewable energy and non- renewable energy>
renewable - will not run out naturally eg. solar, wind, hydro
non-renewable - will run out/ not easily replenished eg. coal, oil or natural gas.
What are fossil fuels?
Coal, oil and gas- when they are burnt they produce harmful gases into the atmosphere. (greenhouse gases)
What is fracking?
The process of getting gas from rock. This is very harmful to the environment as it can damage the crust and cause earthquakes.
What is nuclear power?
Through the process of nuclear fission (where uranium/plutonium are broken down) creates electricity. These can become very dangerous if they go wrong eg. chernobyll/fukoshima But it is clean and efficient.
What is tidal energy?
the tide is used to turn generators. this is highly reliable but it can be expensive and have limited conditions to build.
What is hydroelectric power?
generators in dams gain power. this is very expensive and damaging to the environment to build. However, they can be used for leisure activities later on.
What are wind turbines?
wind turns large turbines in the sky.
It is reasonably cheap and generates a lot of power in winter (when it is needed most) however it can be dangerous to birds/animals
What is solar power?
photovoltaic cells convert solar to electricity. They can be unreliable in winter without sun and are expensive but they are very good for the environment.
What is biomass?
decaying matter is used for heat to turn turbines to work generators. These are said to be carbon neutral as they extrude more power than they burn however they do still release greenhouse gases.
