Energy Resources

Question 1

Name the three fossil fuels.

Answer 1

• Coal
• Oil
• Natural gas

Question 2

List some non-renewable energy resources.

Answer 2

• Coal
• Oil
• Natural gas
• Nuclear fuel

Question 3

List some renewable energy resources.

Answer 3

• Bio-fuel
• Solar
• Tidal
• Hydro-electricity
• Wind

Question 4

Describe the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy resources.

Answer 4

Non-renewable energy resources are finite resources, whereas renewable resources are renewed as they are used

Question 5

Describe what ‘bio-fuels’ are.

Answer 5

Renewable energy resources created from plant products or animal dung - they can be burnt to produce electricity or run cars in the same way as fossil fuels

Question 6

Give some disadvantages to using bio-fuels.

Answer 6

• They cannot respond to immediate energy demands
• The cost to refine bio-fuels is very high
• Some worry that growing crops for bio-fuels will occupy the space and water needed to grow crops for food
• Large areas of forest have been cleared to grow bio-fuels - burning of this vegetation has led to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions

Question 7

Give some advantages to using non-renewable energy resources.

Answer 7

• They are reliable - there is plenty of fuel to meet the current demand for energy, meaning they can be used to respond quickly to changes in demand
• Cost to extract fossil fuels is low, and power plants are cheap to build and run

Question 8

Give some disadvantages to using non-renewable energy resources.

Answer 8

• Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when burned, contributing to global warming
• Burning coal and oil can release sulfur dioxide, which causes acid rain
• Oil spillages cause serious environmental problems
• Nuclear waste is very dangerous and difficult to dispose of