ENERGY MATTERS Generation Of Electricity Flashcards
Give energy transformation and what happens in a nuclear power station. (Uranium)
REACTOR chemical to heat. (React to produce heat to change water into steam)
TURBINES; heat to kinetic (turns turbine)
GENERATOR; kinetic to electrical (drives generator)
Give energy transformation and what happens in a thermal power station (coal/oil/gas)
BOILER; chemical to heat. (Coal/oil/gas is burned to heat water to change it to steam)
TURBINES; heat to kinetic. (Steam turns turbine)
GENERATOR; kinetic to electrical. (Turbines drive generator)
Give energy transformation and what happens in a hydroelectric power station (water)
WATER BEHIND DAM; potential (water at a height)
TURBINES; potential to kinetic (water released to turn turbines)
GENERATOR kinetic to electrical (movement turns generator)
What is a pumped storage hydroelectric power station?
At night when power stations create excess fuel this power station uses the energy to pump water back up to the reserved or which can be released at peak times.
What is a disadvantage to nuclear power?
It creates radioactive waste which must be stored for thousands of years before it is safe.
What is the difference in energy production between thermal power stations and nuclear power station?
1kg of uranium produces millions of times more energy that an equal mass of coal.
No energy is lost but what an happen to some energy?
It can become degraded; become less useful. Eg released as heat. This is because nothing is 100% efficient.
What happens during nuclear fission?
A uranium nucleus is bombarded with neutrons which causes the nucleus splits. This releases two more neutrons which go on to hit another nucleus…
What is nuclear fission?
The splitting of a uranium nucleus.
What is a chain reaction?
A continuous reaction of fissions.
