Energy and Water Flashcards
What is Non-Renewable energy
Non-renewable energy is energy that comes from a finite source, the energy will eventually run out
What is renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy that comes from a replenishable source, it is sustainable and will not run out
What does finite mean
Finite means limited
What does sustainable development mean
development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations
List five types of non-renewable energy
Coal
Oil
Natural gas
Fuelwood
Nuclear
List five types of renewable energy
Geothermal
Wind
Hydroelectric
Solar
Biogas/Biofuel
How can we harness coal to create energy
Coal is burnt under a body of water, this makes the water evaporates into steam. The steam will build up in pressure, when there is enough pressure it will spin a turbine above it, the turbine rotates a shaft inbetween two electromagnets. As a result electrons are forced through the shaft and electrical energy is formed. this is also known as powering up a generator.
What are 4 advantages and 4 disadvantages of using coal to create energy
Advantages:
- Cheap
- Abundant
- Reliable
- Already an established industry
Disadvantages:
- Non renewable
- Contributes to global warming
- Extra gases produced effects human health
- Mining for coal can be dangerous
What is an example of a power station ran on coal and explain it.
Drax power station - UK
- Provides 6% of U.K’s energy
- Has a capacity of aproximatly 2500 megawattes
- Crushes aproximatly 35 tonnes of coal an hour
How can we harness fuel wood to create energy
The wood is burned, it is going though combustion. As this happens heat energy is produced which is what we can use to cook food and heat our houses
What are 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of using fuelwood
Advantages:
- Cheap
- Abundant
- Can be sustainable if the tree is replaced when cut down
What is an area using a high amount of fuelwood and explain it
East Africa:
- Fuelwood is used for 85% of the energy in the reigon
- East africa looses aproximatly 450,000 hectars per year for fuelwood
- Lots of species are loosing their homes and are becomming endangered
How can we harness nuclear power to create energy
Nuclear power is produced through nuclear fission. A neutron is smashed into an atom causing to split, this releases a chain reaction as more neutrons are released. this process creates a lot of energy. the energy used creates steam which pushes a turbine in between two electromagnets causing an electrical current. Also known has powering up a generator
What are 4 advantages and 4 disadvantages.
Advantages:
- It does not contribute to global warming, therefore it is sustainable
- The power stations have a very long lifetime
- It is reliable
- Not a lot of fuel is needed, it will last for a very long time
Disadvantages:
- Large scale accidents can be catastrophic
- It is difficult to safely dispose radio-active waste
- Public perception of nuclear power is negative
- Very high building and decommision costs
Give an example of a country that uses a lot of nuclear energy
France:
- Nuclear energy provides 76% of frances energy
- France currently has 58 operational nuclear power plants
- it has the second largest number of nuclear power plants in the world
How can we harness hydro-electric power into energy
Most hydroelectric power plants have a large reservoir of water connected to a dam. As water drops down the dam, it gains gravitational energy which is then converted to kinetic energy when it hits the ground below. The kinetic energy pushes a turbine in betwen two electromagnets producing an electrical current (also known has powering a generator).
Give 4 advantages and 4 disadvantages of using hydro-electric power
Advantages:
- No pollution created, it’s sustainable
- Easy to regulate the production levels of energy
- Renewable source, won’t run out
- reliable
Disadvantages:
- High geographic requirments
- damage to aquatic wildlife
- High cost to build
- High flood risk
- people could get relocated if a new dam is being constructed there
Give an example of a Hydro-Electric power station and explain it
The Gorges Dam
- Located in Yangtze river china
- Energy potential is 22500 GW
- Suplies energy to 20m people
- 220,000 people were relocated
- cost was 26.25m USD
How can we harness solar power into usable energy
Multiple solar panals are set up in an open area near the sun, solar panals contain several solar cells inside of them. Solar cels contain silicon, this captures photons, which are small packets of energy given off by the sun. As photons go into the solar cell an electric charge is produced
What are 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of using solar power
Advantages
- Renewable, will never run out
- Does release greenhouse gases, it’s sustainable
- Safe
Disadvantages:
- Doesn’t generate energy at night, it’s not as reliable as others
- takes up a lot of space
- it’s very expensive to purchase
- must be cleaned regulary as dust acumilates
Give an example of a solar park and explain it
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park - Dubai:
- The largest solar power plant in the UAE
- Covers 77 square KM
- By 2030 will have capacity of 5000 MW
- Will save over 6.5m tonnes of carbon emmisions anually
- Solar energy is efficient in the UAE as it’s sunny almost all year round
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