Energy resources Flashcards
Define energy resource
An energy resource is anything that we use to obtain energy
Define renewable energy resource
A renewable energy resource is one that can be replenished as it is being used and therefore will not run out
Define non- renewable energy resource
A non-renewable energy resource is one that cannot be replenished in a short enough time period and therefore will run out
What are the main energy resources available for use on Earth
The main energy resources available for use on Earth include:
fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas), nuclear fuel,
bio-fuel,
wind,
hydroelectricity
, geothermal,
the tides,
the Sun
water waves.
Give examples of renewable energy resources
Renewable energy resoures
Wind
Geothermal
Hydroelectric
Tidal
Solar - Heat, Electric
Biomass (any energy obtained from plants or animals)
Waves
Give examples of non-renewable energy resources
Non-renewable energy resources
Coal
Gas
Oil
Nuclear
What are the uses of energy resources
The uses of energy resources include:
transport, electricity
generation and heating.
Describe tidal power
The tides are movements of very large amounts of water.
We can get some of the energy out of the tides by building a barrage
As the tides change, the water level on each side of the barrage is different
The water is made to flow through turbines which drive generators to make electricity.
Describe wave power
The waves on the surface of the sea have lots of kinetic energy
We can get some of this energy out of them and use it to make electricity.
Describe Geo-thermal energy
In some parts of the world, there are very hot rocks near the surface.
If holes are drilled into these hot rocks and water is pumped down it will boil and turn into steam. This steam then comes back up other pipes and can be used to drive a turbine which makes electricity
Describe hydro-electric power
Rain falls high on mountains and forms streams and rivers
When they are high up on the hill, they have potential energy.
If dams are built to hold back the water this energy can be stored. When the water is released it falls. This changes the waters potential energy to kinetic energy.
The kinetic energy of the water is used to turn a turbine which turns a generator and makes electricity
Describe Solar energy
The most important of the renewable energy resources is the sun
We can get energy from it in three different ways
1) We can use it directly in heating
This can be done by having more windows on the south side of buildings than on the north side
Or special devices called Solar Panels can be used. These trap the heat from the sun and transfer it into water. The water can then be used for heating
2) We can change it to electricity
To do this Solar Cells can be used
These make electricity when bright light shines on them
They do not make much electricity, so lots of them are needed if much electricity is wanted
3) We can grow plants (Biomass)
We can burn the plants
If we grow a plant called sugar cane we can ferment it to make alcohol which we can use as fuel (especially for cars)
Describe wind power
The moving wind has kinetic energy
This energy is transferred to the rotor (the turning part) of a wind turbine which makes the rotor spin.
The rotor tuns a generator which makes electricity
To make much electricity, wind turbines have to be very big
Complete the sentence
Fossil fuels are typically _____ to provide energy
Fossil fuels are typically burnt to provide energy
Give example of nuclear fuel
Examples of nuclear fuels are uranium and plutonium
Which type of fossil fuel power station has the shortest start-up time?
Rate the non-renewable power stations by their start-up times
Gas power stations are the type of fossil fuel power station that has the shortest start-up time.
Shortest start-up time
Gas
Oil
Coal
Nuclear
Longest start-up time
Describe how non-renewable energy resources can be used for transport
Petrol and diesel powered vehicles use fuel created from oil
Coal is used in some steam trains to boil water to produce steam
Describe how renewable energy resources can be used for transport
Vehicles can run on pure bio-fuels.
Describe how non-renewable resources can be used for heating
Natural gas is the most widely used fuel for heating homes in the UK. The gas is used to heat water, which is then pumped into radiators throughout the home
Coal is commonly burnt in fire places
Some electric heaters use electricity generated from non-renewable energy resources
Describe how renewable resources can be used for heating
A geothermal heat pump uses geothermal energy resources to heat buildings
Solar Panels can be used. These trap the heat from the sun and transfer it into water. The water can then be used for heating. The water is pumped into the radiators in the building
Burning bio-fuel or using electricity generated from renewable resources can also be used for heating
Explain how power stations produce electricity (how conventional power stations work)
The fuel is burnt releasing heat energy which heats up water producing steam.
The kinetic energy of the steam turns the turbine which turns the generator, producing electricity
Explain how nuclear stations produce electricity (how nuclear stations work)
The nuclear fission reaction produces heat energy, which then heats up the water. The kinetic energy of the steam produced turns the turbine which turns the generator, producing electricity
Rate the non-renewable power stations by the amount of greenhouse emissions produced
Lowest greenhouse emissions
Gas - produces the least CO2
Oil
Coal
Highest greenhouse emissions
Give examples of bio-fuels
Methane and ethanol are examples of biofuels
