Energy Flashcards
Outline how ozone is environmentally important for acid rain. (1)
Oxidises SO2 to SO3/sulfurous acid to sulfuric acid/synergism/toxic to leaves-cuticles/denatures proteins - cell membranes/chlorosis;
Outline how ozone is environmentally important for stratosphere (1)
Absorbs UV/prevents skin cancer/named health problem;
[A reduces UV reaching Earth]
Outline how ozone is environmentally important for photochemical smogs. (1)
Interaction with NOx/HCs/production of PANs;
[A interaction with sunlight]
Outline how ozone is environmentally important for directly affecting living organisms. (1)
Eye/respiratory/asthma/leaf-cuticle damage;
[R protection from UV]
Suggest how the low persistence of ozone affects the severity of the pollution it causes. (1)
Only short-term/local effects effects/reduced mobility
Outline the arguments for and against the development of nuclear power. (4)
Arguments for;;; eg
abundant fuel
high energy density/small amount of fuel needed
low fuel transport requirement
named pollutant not released
small waste quantity
Qualified comments that can be used for or against
eg
mining damage
uranium, sand, gravel, other materials
site suitability
limited number/planning permission problems
lower access problems than fossil fuel power stations
development/installation/construction cost
power station operation cost
high cost compared with others
high cost but high return
type of energy produced – suitability for public/industrial/transport use
level of technology
well developed
too complex for LEDCs
level of CO2 emissions
none from power stations
lots from support industries
power station aesthetics
ugly power stations
local impact
worker safety
good safety record
public safety
named health risk
environmental contamination
low contamination rate
need for evacuation/changed land use
stated damage caused
level of public support
perceived risks
NIMBY
employment
Outline the arguments for and against the development of solar power. (4)
Arguments for;;; E.g.
renewable energy (relatively) simple technology no fuel requirement no pollution (in use) usable in isolated areas suitable for mobile uses
few aesthetic problems
Qualified comments that can be used for or against
level of public support
level of CO2 emissions
none in use
released during manufacture
type of energy produced – suitability for public/industrial/transport use
raw material usage installation/set-up costs maintenance costs
Argument against;;
intermittent/day-night/seasonal
Unreliable/affected by cloud cover
Low efficiency (energy conversion by panels)
Describe the trends in demand for electricity. (3)
Daily rise and fall/daytime peaks, night time lows;
fluctuations during daytime peak (during day, meals, breaks);
higher during week than at weekend;
reduced/changed time of peaks Sat/Sun;
differences between weekdays;
eg Mon-Thu ref to values at stated time;
Suggest reasons for the difference in the trends on Monday and Sunday. (2)
baseload activity (all the time);
eg industry: Al smelting, sewage treatment, water treatment, hospitals domestic: fridges, appliances on standby
weekday/weekend differences;;
eg less industry at weekend
different meal times
use of electricity for transport - elec trains/underground trams
[A impact of weather change]
Explain how the electricity industry can store surplus energy to help match fluctuations in demand. (5)
Pumped storage HEP;
(surplus electricity used to) pump water up;
two reservoirs;
(gravitational) potential energy;
water released during periods of demand;
rapid response;
HEP dam kept closed;
(gravitational) potential energy (stored);
electricity generated when required;
Hydrogen economy;
(surplus electricity used for) electrolysis of water;
storage of hydrogen (from electrolysis);
use of (stored) hydrogen when needed;
named method of using (stored) hydrogen;
Fuel cell;
electricity used to make fuel/converted to chemical energy;
named fuel/hydrogen/methanol;
electricity generated when required;
named use of fuel cell;
Suggest two reasons why wind farms are not always built in the windiest areas. (2)
Named human conflicts;;
eg aesthetics, noise, flicker, radio interference
named wildlife conflicts;;
eg bird strike/migration route, bat deaths, habitat damage designated areas access difficulty;
distance to consumers;
named construction problem;
eg poor foundations/deep water
Explain how economic strategies have been used to encourage the use of renewable energy. (3)
NFFO/Non Fossil Fuel Obligation;
price control; eg increase fossil fuel price
tax relief;
carbon tax;
(set-up) grants/discounts/subsidies/loans/research funding;
make planning process/construction easier;
sell surplus electricity to the grid;
Outline the ways in which the use of wind turbines may cause damage to the natural environment. (3)
Habitat damage during material extraction/processing;
habitat loss/damage for installation of aerogenerators;
habitat loss/damage for access roads/transformers/cables/infrastructure;
aesthetic damage to natural environment;
bird strike;
bat deaths;
noise disturbance of wildlife/named taxa; eg of cetaceans
Describe how oxides of nitrogen may cause the production of a secondary pollutant. (2)
Photochemical reaction/photodissociation/action of light/UV;
NO2 breakdown (to NO and O);
monatomic oxygen (produced);
ozone (produced from O2 and O);
PANs;
OR
NOx dissolves in water;
nitric acid (produced);
toxic ion/heavy metal solubility
Outline two features of ship tanker design that are intended to reduce the risk of oil pollution. (4)
Method;;
eg
double hull
reduced risk of tank damage
tank washing/bilge water storage tank
waste not dumped overboard/discharged at oil terminal
twin rudders/engines/fuel tanks
less chance of total manoeuvrability failure
ballast water;
not held in oil tanks;
advanced navigation;
avoid collisions;
inert gas system;
reduce fire/explosion risk;
[Alarger number of tanks]
[Asmaller volume spilt]
Outline two ways in which energy density may affect the usefulness of an energy resource. (2)
Resources with high energy density more useful because:
higher power output/less fuel needed;
greater ease of transport;
less space for storage;
higher achievable temperature;
higher achievable pressure;
higher achievable light intensity;
named use requiring high energy density, eg vehicle fuel;
[A converse]
Explain how the use of hydrogen as a secondary fuel may help to increase the usefulness of renewable energy resources such as wind and solar power. (3)
Removes unreliability/intermittency;
higher energy density;
electrolysis of water(to produce hydrogen);
more useful chemical energy;
application to vehicles/named use/high intensity use;
many primary fuels harnessed to give one fuel for consumers;
storability of hydrogen;
surplus for later use/peak shaving/back up supplies
Suggest why, despite their higher embodied energy, replacing steel with aluminium and plastics may reduce the total amount of energy used by a car over its lifetime. (2)
Reduce mass/lighter;
reduced energy/fuel use (for propulsion)
Outline how car manufacturers can design cars to reduce the environmental impact at the end of the vehicle’s life. (2)
Choice/amount of materials that can be recycled;
reuseable parts;
lower energy use (in recycling);
easier separation/dismantling;
identifiable materials;
less waste produced;
fewer toxins/pollutants;
alloys (harder to recycle);
biodegradable materials;
named material with high embodied energy used because easilyrecycled;[Aconverse]
Use examples to explain how the purchasing choices made by consumers can affect the overall environmental impact of their lifestyle. (4)
Recyclable goods;
recycled goods;
fair-trade/ethical goods;
organic products;
local goods/food miles;
air miles/travel distance choice;
choice of transport type; eg bicycle, car, bus, train
low energy goods/energy conservation products/renewable energy;
low water use products;
(avoidance of) packaging;
planned obsolescence/disposable items/fashions;
trivia;
high embodied energy products;
Outline how the use of solar power reduces the use of other energy inputs. (3)
Example of how other energy inputs would have been used;;
eg
space heating
water heating
lighting
electrical appliances
example of use of solar power;;;
eg
passive solar gain
photothermal panel
large windows
south facing windows
high thermal mass materials
[Aphotovoltaics]
Compare the environmental impacts of the use of renewable and non-renewable energy resource. (20)
Non renewables
fuel extraction
fuel processing
emissions
solid wastes
equipment manufacture
renewables
equipment manufacture
aesthetics
HEP – flooding, river changes
tidal – barrages
biofuels
Explain how improvements in technology have increased the amount of energy that can be provided by a named fossil fuel. (2)
Named technological improvement (for named fossil fuel);
how more energy is made available;
eg
coal gasification/liquifaction
access deep/thin/shattered seams
secondary oil recovery
maintain/increase pressure
tertiary oil recovery
solvents/steam/detergents/bacteria reduce oil viscosity
deviation/snakehead drilling
access small fields
deep drilling
access more reservoirs
fracking
increase gas flow
named exploratory technique
increase proven reserves