energy

Question 1

State one advantage and one disadvantage of generating electrical power in nuclear
power stations compared with electrical power generated using wind turbines.

Answer 1

advantage – one from:
* Continuous supply of energy
* not affected by the weather OR not affected by wind strength
* produces large amounts of energy

disadvantage – one from:
* resources finite / not renewable
* cost / difficulty of building / cost / difficulty of decommissioning
* danger if any leak of radiation
* produces hazardous / dangerous waste OR difficulty of storage of used radioactive material OR nuclear waste must be
stored for a long time

Question 2

State and explain whether each of the following methods of electrical power generation is renewable.

(i) power generation in a nuclear power station

(ii) power generation from waves in the sea

tidal energy

Answer 2

statement) non-renewable / not renewable / no (explanation)- (nuclear) fuel is used up

(statement) renewable / yes (explanation) waves will always continue OR produced by wind which will always continue OR nothing used up

tides- tides are continuous / regular / happen every day / always there / owtte OR Moon / Sun always there OR nothing is consumed / used up OR tides are an unlimited resource

Question 3

State one disadvantage of hydroelectric power schemes.

State one renewable source of energy.

Answer 3

damage to habitats (for fish) / construction is expensive / droughts / flood risk if dam bursts

hydroelectric/ biofuel / wind / geothermal / tidal / solar / wave

Question 4

State one advantage and one disadvantage of tidal power as an energy resource.

Answer 4

any one advantage from:
* renewable
* reliable or predictable
* running cost low
* does not produce (harmful) pollution.

any one disadvantage from:
* (high) cost of construction
* possible effects on (marine) life
* not available all day
* power produced doesn’t always match with peak demand
* limited number of sites
* maintenance difficult / increased corrosion (because underwater).

Question 5

A power station burns waste materials from farm crops to generate electricity.
(a) State and explain whether this process is renewable.

(b) The power station uses some of its waste thermal energy to heat water for houses in a nearby town.
State one problem of using waste energy in this way if the power station is far from the town.

Suggest a way of reducing this problem.

(c) State two environmental consequences of burning coal to generate electricity.

Answer 5

renewable / yes
crops can be regrown (to replace resource) / waste materials don’t run out

water will cool (too much) / thermal energy lost (during transfer)
lag/insulate (pipes) OR transport in a poor conductor of thermal energy

• air pollution / harmful gases / acid rain
• CO2 / greenhouse gases / contribution to global warming
• not renewable
• damage from mining / drilling or any valid environmental consequence of transport of coa