Energy Generation And Storage

Question 1

What are fossil fuels?

Answer 1

A natural fuel such as coal oil or gas formed from the remains of living organisms

Question 2

What some examples of fossil fuels?

Answer 2

Coal from trees and oil and gas from marine organisns

Question 3

What to be done to fuels to produce heat?

Answer 3

They have to be burnt

Question 4

How is heat used in energy generation?

Answer 4

The heat is used to convert water into steam at very high pressure and temperature which is used to drive turbines connected to generators which produce electricity

Question 5

What is global warming ?

Answer 5

An increase in the temperature of the earths atmosphere caused by the greenhouse effect and increased levels of greenhouse gases

Question 6

What is an advantage of coal ?

Answer 6

It doesn’t require any processing before burning although it is a usually crushed.
There are still sufficient reserves of coal to last hundreds of years

Question 7

What percentage of our electricity do we gain from coal fired plants plants?

Answer 7

Coal

Question 8

What does mining and burning coal produce ?

Answer 8

Waste and and atmospheric pollution which poses environmental problems

Question 9

What is a disadvantage of using coal?

Answer 9

Waste tips , stockpiles and open pits look unsightly and hazardous and sulphur dioxide fumes from coal power statadd to the atmospheric pollution and cause acid rains which damaged trees and lakes

Question 10

What is the main source of power for electricity production in the UK?

Answer 10

Natural gas

Question 11

What are some advantages of natural gas?

Answer 11

It can be burnt directly and does not require crushing , it is easy to transport through pipelines

Question 12

What is oil hardly used for and is mainly used for?

Answer 12

Hardly used for electricity production mainly used for heating systems and used in rad and sea transportation

Question 13

What percentage of the uks electricty comes from nuclear reactors

Answer 13

2

Question 14

What does fission mean?

Answer 14

The process in which uranium atoms are split and produce heat

Question 15

What can happen with nuclear waste if not dealt with carefully?

Answer 15

Highly hazardous and can have long lasting effects of the health of humans and animals for thousands of years .

Question 16

What percentage of renewable energy sources do we use?

Answer 16

25

Question 17

Why is renewable energy sources better compared to fossil fuels ?

Answer 17

They tend not to produce any waste or significantly add to global warming by producing gases

Question 18

Where do some our energy sources come from?

Answer 18

Fossil fuels , coal, natural gas, nuclear power , wind , solar , tidal, water or hydroelectricity , wave , biomass

Question 19

Where is the best place to put wind turbines and why ?

Answer 19

On the coast , offshore, on a hilltop, or between hills or mountains so that the wind supply is reliable

Question 20

What are the types of solar technologies?

Answer 20

Passive or active depending on how they catch solar energy and convert it into power

Question 21

Which position on earth gain the most and least amount solar energy?

Answer 21

Most near the equator least near the polar cap

Question 22

What does tidal energy rely on?

Answer 22

The gravitational pull of the moon

Question 23

What does the gravitational pull of the moon cause ?

Answer 23

The change in water levels that we call tides

Question 24

What percentage of britains energy is provided by tidal power ?

Answer 24

20

Question 25

What is the most common form of tidal power ?

Answer 25

Tidal barrage

Question 26

What is a tidal barrage ?

Answer 26

A long dam that is built across the mouth of a river where it meets the sea

Question 27

What are tidal barrage also known as ?

Answer 27

Estuary barrage

Question 28

How are the constructed?

Answer 28

Constructed so that the incoming tide passes through turbines generating electricity

Question 29

Where can the water in tidal barrage be held until it is needed?

Answer 29

Held in the high tide state upstream of the barrier

Question 30

When is the water in tidal barrage released?

Answer 30

At low tide flows out through the turbines again turning them and generating electricity

Question 31

What are some disadvantages of tidal barrages ?

Answer 31

The river would never completely empty ,flooding mudflats , which provide a habitat for thousands of birds. May also be problems of waste disposal as many town discharge sewage into rivers

Question 32

How do hydroelectricity schemes block a river?

Answer 32

Using a dam

Question 33

Where is the sufficient water built up in dams stored ?

Answer 33

In a reservoir and it can be channeled through turbines that are used to turn generating for producing energy

Question 34

What are some advantages of dams?

Answer 34

As the water is held electricity can be produced very quickly by opening valves that control the flow to the turbines

Question 35

What are the environmental effects of dams?

Answer 35

The flooding of valley and reducing the water flow below the dam can affect the growing of crops and river ecosystems

Question 36

What is renewable energy?

Answer 36

Energy from a source that is depleted when used such as wind or solar power

Question 37

What is hydroelectricity?

Answer 37

The process which uses a dam to block a river in a valley and channels water through turbines that are used to turn generators for producing electricity

Question 38

What is biomass?

Answer 38

Growing plants so that they can be burnt or using decaying plant or animal materials to produce heat

Question 39

What are treated vegetables oils suitable for ?

Answer 39

For diesel engines used to power large trucks used for deliveries and for small scale electricity generation

Question 40

What are some plants grown as biomass crops ?

Answer 40

Oilseed rapeseed and willow

Question 41

What is an advantage of biomass ?

Answer 41

That replacement crops can be grown really quickly to ensure a constant supply of

Question 42

What is a disadvantage of biomass?

Answer 42

The land could be used for growing crops for food

Question 43

What are some examples of devices used to store energy for use at a later time ?

Answer 43

P7mped storage systems , flywheels , clockwork, capacitors and rechargeable batteries

Question 44

What is a pumped storage systems?

Answer 44

A hydroelectric dam system is used with two reservoirs one at a low level and one up a mountain

Question 45

What is a good way of dealing with sudden high demand for electricity?

Answer 45

Pumped storage systems

Question 46

How does the pumped storage system instantly release electricity?by opening valves to allow water to flow from the high reservoir to the lower one through turbines

Answer 46

by opening valves to allow water to flow from the high reservoir to the lower one through turbines

Question 47

What are fly wheels ?

Answer 47

Heavy spinning mass that continues to spin when the driving forces stop

Question 48

What are bearings used for in flywheels ?

Answer 48

Used to reduce friction which in turn increases the efficiency of the system

Question 49

What are capacitors?

Answer 49

The most non chemical method of storing electricity and their invention predates the battery

Question 50

What do capacitors consist of and how do they work?

Answer 50

Consist of two plates of opposite polarity. When the capacitor is charged the positive charges migrate to one plate and the negative to the other

Question 51

What are super capacitors used in and why ?

Answer 51

Electric vehicles because they can be rechargeable many mot times than batteries.

Question 52

What are 2 main types of batteries?

Answer 52

Primary (single use) and secondary (rechargeable)

Question 53

What are some examples of primary batteries?

Answer 53

Alkaline batteries in clocks and zinc carbon

Question 54

Compare zinc carbon batteri to alkaline batteries.

Answer 54

Although zinc carbon batteries are cheaper they do not last as long or store as much electrical energy in the same space as alkaline batteries

Question 55

Compare rechargeable batteries and alkaline batteries?

Answer 55

Rechargeable batt are more expensive to buy but are cheaper to use as they can be recharged many times

Question 56

What is the typical cell voltage of rechargeable batteries?

Answer 56

1.2 volts

Question 57

What are the issues with batteries related to safe disposal?

Answer 57

They contain harmful chemicals and matals that must not be allowed to contaminate groundwater supplies