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Geography Y9 > Energy > Flashcards

Energy Flashcards

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1
Q

What is renewable energy?

A

Renewable energy is defined as energy that comes from resources which are naturally replenished such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat.

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2
Q

What is non-renewable energy?

A

Non-renewable energy comes from sources that are finite or are used quicker than they are replenished. Most non renewable energy sources are fossil fuels: coal, oil and natural gas.

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3
Q

What is recyclable energy?

A

Energy where the bi-product can be reused to create the energy again.

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4
Q

What are the 3 groups of energy?

A
  • Renewable
  • Non-renewable
  • Recyclable.
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5
Q

What is a resource?

A

A resource is anything that is of use to people. Geographers use the term to refer to the natural resources found on earth.

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6
Q

Geothermal energy description.

A

Deep underground, the Earth’s rocks are naturally very hot. We can turn their heat energy into electrical energy to use in our homes – we call this ‘geothermal energy’.

    1. Cold water is pumped below the ground.
    1. Hot rocks heat the water, turning it into steam.
    1. The steam is used to generate electricity.
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7
Q

Advantages to geothermal energy.

A
  • This is a renewable energy resource.
  • It does not create greenhouse gases because nothing is burned.
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8
Q

Disadvantages to geothermal energy.

A
  • There are very few places in the world where you can do this, so only some regions can use this energy type.
  • It is expensive to drill deep into the ground
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9
Q

Hydroelectric energy description.

A

The water flowing in a river has kinetic energy. We can turn this into electrical energy to use in our homes. We usually need to build a dam and let the water flow through it gradually. This turns a turbine which moves to create electricity.

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10
Q

Advantages to hydroelectric energy.

A
  • It is renewable!
  • Countries can build their own dams and therefore do not need to import energy from other countries.
  • The electricity created is cheaper than other sources of energy so that local communities can afford it.
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11
Q

Disadvantages to hydroelectric energy.

A
  • To build a dam, you need a lot of space. This leads to people having to move out of the area. Most of the time, these people are poor and live in rural communities.
  • Huge areas of land are flooded to create dams, damaging ecosystems such as tropical rain-forests.
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12
Q

Solar energy description.

A

The Earth gets heat and light energy from the sun all the time. Can we use it – yes, we can! The Sun’s energy can either be:
* 1. Changed into electrical energy to use in homes, using solar cells.
* 2. Or used to heat water for homes, using solar panels.

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13
Q

Advantages to solar energy.

A
  • Renewable
  • No pollution because nothing gets burned
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14
Q

Disadvantages to solar energy.

A
  • Solar cells and solar panels are expensive.
  • Only works if it’s sunny!
  • Can be an eyesore
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15
Q

Wind energy description.

A

Using wind turbines, we can turn the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy which we can use in our homes. The wind travels through a turbine, making it spin. This movement is then converted into electricity to power homes and businesses.

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16
Q

Advantages to wind energy.

A
  • Renewable
  • Wind turbines can be built on land and at sea which means that they are good for lots of different countries.
  • Turbines are quite cheap and easy to build, so they can be used even in poor countries
17
Q

Disadvantages to wind energy.

A
  • Turbines can be ugly and noisy which might upset local communities.
  • Only works if it’s quite windy! So not very reliable.
18
Q

Biomass energy description.

A

The chemical potential energy stored in things that were once alive (e.g. trees) can be turned into heat energy by burning them. (We can also turn it into electrical energy to use in our homes.)
* 1. Trees absorb the sun’s energy. The trees change this energy into chemical energy, which they store inside themselves.
* 2. When we burn wood, we turn this energy into heat, which is useful for cooking and heating.

19
Q

Advantages to biomass energy.

A
  • Renewable – as long as we keep planting trees to replace the ones, we cut down.
  • Doesn’t need any special equipment, so it can be used very easily, even in poor countries.
20
Q

Disadvantages to biomass energy.

A
  • Large areas of land are needed to grow enough trees
21
Q

Oil energy description

A

Oil is extracted from the earth through large suction pumps which suck it up from deep underneath the earth’s surface. This is often carried out on oil rigs out at sea. Back at the power stations the oil is then burned. As the oil burns, it heats water in a boiler above it. This produces steam which powers a turbine engine. It is this engine which produces electric energy.

22
Q

Advantages to oil energy.

A
  • Oil is cheap and easy to transport.
  • It is still quite abundant. This means there is still quite a lot of it.
23
Q

Disadvantages to oil energy.

A
  • Oil spills are frequent and have huge impacts on the surrounding environment, particularly when they happen at sea.
  • As oil begins to run out it is becoming much more expensive to use.
24
Q

Coal energy description.

A

Coal is extracted from the earth through mining. Once the coal has been collected it is then broken down into a fine powder. The powder is then mixed with hot air in a furnace (a large oven). As the coal burns, it heats water in a boiler above it. This produces steam which powers a turbine engine. It is this engine which produces electric energy.

Coal itself doesn’t make electricity; it is the burning of it to heat water that powers an engine which produces energy!

25
Q

Advantages to coal energy.

A
  • Coal is cheap and easy to transport across the world.
  • Some of the waste materials generated by burning coal can be recycled and used in cement
26
Q

Disadvantages to coal energy.

A
  • It will run out in the next 100 years.
  • Coal mines are very dangerous places to work.
  • Burning coal releases lots of greenhouse gases which is bad for the environment.
27
Q

Wave energy description.

A

The sea’s waves have kinetic energy. Using machines that bob up and down in the waves, this energy can be turned into electrical energy which we can use in our homes.

28
Q

Advantages to wave energy.

A
  • Renewable
  • No pollution because nothing gets burned
29
Q

Disadvantages to wave energy.

A
  • Need lots of machines to get a reasonable amount of energy.
  • The machines cost a lot of money.
  • The machines can look ugly.
  • The machines can be easily damaged by storms.
30
Q

Tidal energy description.

A

If you’ve ever been to the coast, you may have noticed that the sea level goes up and down, because of tides. When the tide is high, the water has lots of gravitational potential energy, which we can turn into electrical energy to use in our homes.
* 1. At high tide, we trap the water behind a dam.
* 2. At low tide, the water is released, and its energy is used to generate electricity.

31
Q

Advantages to tidal energy.

A
  • Renewable
  • No pollution because nothing gets burned.
  • Reliable, because there are always two tides every day.
  • Cheap to run, once it’s built
32
Q

Disadvantages to tidal energy.

A
  • Costs a lot to build the dam.
  • The dam may cause local flooding
33
Q

Nuclear energy description.

A

Nuclear energy is a way of creating energy by splitting apart atoms. All power plants convert heat into electricity using steam. At nuclear power plants, the heat to make the steam is created when atoms split apart. The heat from the atoms boils water and creates steam which turns a turbine and generates electricity. A nuclear power plant relies on a chemical called uranium to split apart atoms. Uranium is found in rocks all over the world.

34
Q

Advantages to nuclear energy.

A
  • Gives off no greenhouse gases.
  • Only a small bit of uranium is needed to make a LOT of energy = it has high energy potential.
  • It isn’t renewable, but it is recyclable
35
Q

Disadvantages to nuclear energy.

A
  • The waste created is highly radioactive. It must be disposed of safely and carefully.
  • Uranium supplies will run out.
  • Nuclear power plants are at risk from terrorist attacks as, if blown up, the radioactive waste would kill anything in the surrounding area.
36
Q

What are some examples of renewable energy sources?

A
  • Geothermal energy
  • Hydroelectric energy
  • Solar energy
  • Wind energy
  • Biomass energy (as long as we keep planting trees)
  • Wave energy
  • Tidal energy
37
Q

What are some examples of non-renewable energy sources?

A
  • Oil energy
  • Coal energy
  • Nuclear energy
38
Q

What are some examples of recyclable energy sources?

A
  • Nuclear energy
  • Biomass energy
39
Q

What impacts energy use?

A
  • Access to natural resources.
  • Development due to access to technology.

Geography Y9 (6 decks)

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