Energy Resources

Question 1

Non-renewable energy

Answer 1

The energy cannot be replaced - it will eventually run out

Question 2

Renewable energy

Answer 2

The energy is being replenished

Question 3

Fossil fuels pros & cons

Answer 3

Pros: Reliable energy on demand, cheap
Cons: Produces CO2 (global warming), SO2 (acid rain), spoils landscape

Provides most of our energy

Question 4

Nuclear pros & cons

Answer 4

Pros: Lots of energy from little fuel, doesn’t produce CO2 or SO2
Cons: Safety, radiation is dangerous & difficult to dispose

Question 5

Solar pros & cons

Answer 5

Pros: Renewable, easy to maintain, no pollution
Cons: Expensive to set up, relies on weather, little energy per panel

Question 6

Wind pros & cons

Answer 6

Pros: Cheap to run, no fuel costs (no pollution), low running costs
Cons: Many are needed to produce much energy, wind dependent, unsightly, can be noisy, high initial costs

Question 7

Geothermal pros & cons

Answer 7

Pros: Reliable, little environmental damage
Cons: Few suitable locations, expensive to drill deep & build power station

Question 8

Hydro-electric pros & cons

Answer 8

Pros: Adapt to demand, reliable, little running costs
Cons: High initial costs, environmental impacts

Question 9

Wave pros & cons

Answer 9

Pros: No pollution
Cons: Disturbs sea bed, relies on waves

Question 10

Tidal pros & cons

Answer 10

Pros: No pollution
Cons: Prevents boat access, unsightly, alters habitats

Question 11

Biomass pros & cons

Answer 11

Pros: Carbon neutral, reliable
Cons: Can’t respond to demand, cleared habitats for costs

Question 12

Uses of energy resources

Answer 12

Transport: mostly non-renewable energy resources used (petrol & diesel, coal - steam trains). But now some electric cars, bio fuels

Electricity generation

Heating: Non-renewable (natural gas, oil, coal), renewable (geothermal, solar power)

Question 13

Fossil fuels are:

Answer 13

Natural resources that form underground over millions of years.
Burnt to provide energy
- Coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear fuels

Question 14

Issues of non-renewables

Answer 14

Non-renewable, therefore will run out. All damage environment through emissions, or issues with mining, storage, disposal

Question 15

Renewable energy resources

Answer 15

Won’t run out. Still damage environment, but less than non-renewable. Provides less energy than non-renewable, most unreliable

Question 16

Trends in energy resource use

Answer 16

Fossil fuels most used now, electricity use increased in 1900s
Electricity produced by fossil fuels (coal, gas, nuclear)
Oil used for car fuel, gas heats homes, cook. UK now trying to increase renewable energy.
Building new renewable energy plants costs lots, where to put them?, personal changes costly

Question 17

Why energy issues can’t always be dealt with

Answer 17

Science can identify environmental issues from the use of energy resources but not always power to deal with issues due to political, social, ethical, economic considerations