ENERGY GENERATION

Question 1

How is energy generated from turbines and generators

Answer 1

• fossil fuels are burned to create heat, and this heat heats the water.
• the water turns into steam and it rotates the turbine
• the turbine is linked to a generator and produces electricity

Question 2

what are fossil fuels

Answer 2

finite resources produced from ancient bio mass (plants and animals)
they are non renewable and are in limited supply

Question 3

examples of fossil fuels

Answer 3

natural gas, coal, oil

Question 4

advantage of fossil fuels

Answer 4

• cheap
• reliable source of energy

Question 5

disadvantages of fossil fuels

Answer 5

• contains high amounts of carbon and when burned releases Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and soot, which contributes to global warming
• non renewable and unsustainable, will eventually run out
• accidents such as oil spills contribute to pollution and environmental contamination

Question 6

how do nuclear power plants generate energy

Answer 6

fission: splitting of uranium in a nuclear reactor

Question 7

advantages of nuclear power

Answer 7

• clean
  -efficient
• doesn’t contribute to global warming

Question 8

disadvantages of nuclear power

Answer 8

-waste material is radioactive and dangerous to life
- disastrous and super damaging effect if there is an accident

Question 9

similarities between wind energy and fossil fuel energy

Answer 9

• fossil fuels are burnt to heat water and the resulting steam turns the turbines which turn generators
• wind turns the turbines directly and the turbines turn generators to generate energy

Question 10

what kind of energy to wind turbines convert

Answer 10

kinetic to electrical

Question 11

how to wind turbines generate electricity

Answer 11

wind causes the blades to turn, and it turns the whole turbine.
the turbines turn the generator and produces electricity

Question 12

what is shale gas

Answer 12

natural gas trapped in the earth’s crust

Question 13

what is tidal power and how does it produce electricity

Answer 13

converts energy from tides into power.
the movement of water turbines underwater turbines which drive the generators that produce electricity

Question 14

advantages of tidal power

Answer 14

a constant, predictable and renewable energy resource that is clean

Question 15

disadvantages of tidal power

Answer 15

expensive to set up and maintain

Question 16

what do solar panels do

Answer 16

solar panels absorb light which is converted into electricity

Question 17

advantages of solar energy

Answer 17

renewable
clean power
no greenhouse gases or harmful waste products produced
can be used in places with a lot of sunlight and generate a lot of electricity

Question 18

disadvantages of solar energy

Answer 18

less energy would be produced in winter months when daylight hours are shorter and the sky is much darker, compared to summer months where daylight hours are longer

Question 19

advantages of hydroelectric energy

Answer 19

it is renewable
reliable
does not pollute
can be regulated according to demand

Question 20

disadvantages of hydroelectric energy

Answer 20

cost and environmental pollution of dam construction is very high
local environment is affected by flooding of a valley, impacting surrounding water flow
this turn affects natural irrigation and ecosystems

Question 21

disadvantages of batteries

Answer 21

-they contain toxic chemicals and are dangerous if they aren’t disposed of correctly
- if they end up in a landfill, chemicals can contaminate ground, causing soil or water pollution