Energy resources Flashcards
What is energy?
The potential to do work.
What is the principle of conservation of energy?
Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred from one form to another.
What is the total energy in the universe?
It stays constant.
What is kinetic energy?
Energy of movement.
What is gravitational potential energy?
Energy related to anything about to fall or falling.
What is chemical energy?
Energy stored in fuels, food, batteries.
What is elastic energy?
Energy stored in elastic objects like rubber bands or trampolines.
What is magnetic energy?
Energy involving magnets.
What is electrostatic energy?
Energy related to electric charges.
What is nuclear energy?
Energy stored in the nucleus of atoms.
What is thermal energy?
Heat energy.
What is energy transfer?
How energy changes from one store to another.
How is energy transferred mechanically?
By moving parts or machinery, including energy transferred by friction.
How is energy transferred electrically?
Through wires.
How is energy transferred thermally?
By heating.
How is energy transferred by radiation?
As sound and light energy.
What unit is energy measured in?
Joules (J).
What is power?
The number of joules transferred every second.
What is the relationship between watts and joules?
1 Watt = 1 joule per second.
How is efficiency calculated?
(useful energy output / total energy input) x 100%.
What are all the energy stores?
Kinetic energy, GPE, chemical energy, elastic energy, magnetic energy, electrostatic energy, nuclear energy, thermal energy.
What are all the ways energy can be transferred?
Mechanically, electrically, thermally, radiation
What do Sankey diagrams represent?
Energy transfers
Sankey diagrams visually depict the flow of energy, showing both useful and wasted energy.
How is the size of each arrow in a Sankey diagram determined?
Proportional to the amount of energy it represents. Remember to label all arrows.
The width of the arrows corresponds to the quantity of energy transferred.
What do straight arrows in a Sankey diagram represent?
Useful energy transfers
Straight arrows indicate energy that is effectively utilized.
What do curved arrows in a Sankey diagram represent?
Wasted energy
Curved arrows indicate energy that is not effectively utilized.
What is conduction?
Transfer of thermal energy in solids or liquids by particle vibration
Conduction occurs when heat is transferred from hot regions to cold regions through direct contact.
How do molecules behave during conduction when heated?
Molecules vibrate more
Increased temperature causes molecules to gain kinetic energy and vibrate more vigorously.
What role do intermolecular forces play in conduction?
Allow adjacent molecules to vibrate
These forces enable the transfer of thermal energy from hotter to cooler areas.
What are conductors?
Materials that conduct thermal energy well
Conductors allow for the efficient transfer of heat.
What are insulators?
Materials that do not conduct thermal energy well
Insulators resist the transfer of heat, making them useful for preventing energy loss.
What are examples of good conductors?
Metals (e.g., copper, aluminum) and diamond
Metals have delocalised electrons that facilitate quick energy transfer.
What are examples of insulators?
Glass, rubber, plastic
These materials are commonly used to reduce heat transfer.
What is convection?
The transfer of molecules in liquids or gases by convection
Convection involves the movement of fluid due to temperature differences, resulting in the circulation of the fluid.
How do convection currents work?
- A heat source transfers thermal energy to the surrounding liquid or gas
- The liquid or gas heats up and expands
- It becomes less dense and rises
- Cold, dense liquid or gas falls to take its place
- The cycle repeats
This process creates a continuous loop of rising and sinking fluids.
What happens to a heated liquid or gas in convection?
It expands, moves further apart, becomes less dense, and rises
As the heated fluid rises, it creates a region of lower pressure that allows cooler fluid to move in.
What causes cold, dense liquid or gas to fall in convection?
It becomes denser as it cools and contracts
The cycle continues as the cooler fluid displaces the warmer fluid.
Give an example of convection in everyday life.
- Hot air balloons
- Boilers
- Temperature differences in houses
These examples illustrate how convection plays a role in heating and fluid movement in daily scenarios.
What is radiation?
The transfer of thermal energy by infrared radiation
Unlike convection, radiation does not require a medium for transfer.
What part of the electromagnetic spectrum does infrared radiation belong to?
Infrared radiation
Infrared radiation can travel through a vacuum and does not require a medium.
Which states of matter allow radiation to pass through best?
Gases allow radiation through better than liquids, and liquids better than solids
This property affects how heat is transferred through different materials.
What type of surfaces absorb and emit radiation the best?
Dark, dull surfaces
The color and texture of a surface significantly influence its thermal radiation properties.
What type of surfaces reflect radiation the best?
Bright, shiny surfaces
Reflective surfaces reduce the absorption of thermal energy.
What factors increase the amount of infrared radiation emitted from a body?
Higher temperature and greater surface area
These factors enhance the rate of thermal radiation emission.
What must be stopped to completely stop the transfer of heat energy?
Heat transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation
These are the three main methods by which heat energy is transferred.
How can energy transfer by conduction be reduced?
Use an insulator
Insulators are materials that do not conduct heat well.
What method prevents energy transfer by convection?
Prevent the circulation of the liquid or gas
Convection involves the movement of fluids, which can carry heat energy.
What type of surfaces reduce energy transfer by radiation?
Bright, shiny surfaces
These surfaces reflect radiant energy, minimizing heat loss.
What is a very good insulator?
Air
Air has low thermal conductivity, making it effective at reducing heat transfer.
What do materials like clothes and carpets do to enhance insulation?
Trap a layer of air
Trapping air improves the insulating effect.
What is the effect of multiple insulators compared to one?
Better insulating effect
Using layers of insulation can significantly reduce heat transfer.
What is double glazing in windows designed to do?
Trap a layer of air between two pieces of glass
This reduces thermal energy transfer by conduction.
How does loft insulation help in a house?
Traps a layer of air and stops heat from hot rooms below from conduction
This helps maintain a comfortable temperature in the living space.
What role do carpets play in insulating floors?
Trap layers of air to keep the floor warm
Carpets prevent cold concrete from conducting heat away.
What is cavity wall insulation?
A layer of foam in between the walls that traps pockets of air
This method helps to minimize heat loss through walls.
What are renewable energy resources?
Resources that can be replenished as quickly as they are used.
What is an advantage of renewable energy resources?
They won’t run out.
What is a key advantage of wind energy?
Doesn’t produce waste products.
How does wind energy help a nation?
Conserves fuel and water.
What is a disadvantage of wind energy?
Intermittent and unreliable.
What is another disadvantage of wind energy?
Expensive to set up.
How is energy transferred in wind energy systems?
- Kinetic energy of wind to kinetic energy of turbine
- Kinetic energy of turbine to electrical energy in the grid.
What is a key advantage of hydroelectric energy?
Few running costs.
What does hydroelectric energy produce?
No waste.
How can hydroelectric energy output be adjusted?
Can be ramped up or down quickly depending on energy demand.
What is a disadvantage of hydroelectric energy?
Can’t be built anywhere due to terrain and rainfall requirements.
What environmental impact can hydroelectric energy have?
Can flood surrounding areas.
What external factor can affect hydroelectric energy production?
Drought.
How is energy transferred in hydroelectric systems?
- Gravitational energy to kinetic energy of water
- Kinetic energy of water to mechanical energy in the generator.
What is one advantage of solar energy?
No waste produced
Solar energy contributes to environmental sustainability by not generating waste.
How does solar energy help a nation?
Helps a nation conserve fuel and water
This conservation assists in meeting energy demand.
What is a disadvantage of solar energy?
Intermittent - needs to be day and not cloudy
Solar energy generation is reliant on weather conditions.
Where can solar energy plants ideally be built for maximum electricity generation?
In certain places such as a desert
Urban areas like London may not be suitable for large solar plants.
What type of energy transfer occurs when heating water using solar energy?
Thermal energy radiated from the sun transfers energy thermally to water
This process is used for washing or heating homes.
How is solar energy transferred to the electrical grid?
Light energy radiated from the sun transferred electrically onto the grid
This conversion is done using solar cells.
What is one advantage of geothermal energy?
Constant source of energy
Geothermal energy provides a reliable and continuous energy source.
What are the maintenance costs associated with geothermal plants?
Very low maintenance costs
This contributes to the long-term viability of geothermal energy.
What is a disadvantage of geothermal energy?
Very location dependent - hard to find suitable location
Not all geographical areas can support geothermal energy production.
What is the initial cost situation for geothermal energy?
High initial setup costs
This can be a barrier for investment in geothermal projects.
What type of energy transfer occurs in geothermal energy systems?
Thermal energy of rocks transferred thermally to water
This process is essential for heating water in geothermal plants.
How is kinetic energy involved in geothermal energy systems?
Kinetic energy of water transferred to kinetic store of generator, mechanically
This conversion is crucial for electricity generation in geothermal plants.
What is a key advantage of wave energy?
No waste products
Wave energy systems do not produce waste materials during operation.
What is a high potential benefit of wave energy?
High energy potential
Wave energy has significant potential due to the vast energy available in ocean waves.
Where can wave energy be harnessed?
Any sea or ocean across the world
Wave energy can be captured globally wherever there are waves.
What is a disadvantage of wave energy?
Waves not always big enough to generate enough electricity
The variability of wave sizes impacts energy generation.
What is another disadvantage of wave energy?
High maintenance costs
Wave energy systems require regular maintenance which can be expensive.
In what conditions does wave energy perform poorly?
Bad weather, e.g., doesn’t work when stormy
Severe weather conditions can hinder the effectiveness of wave energy systems.
What are non-renewable energy resources?
Fossil fuels - coal, oil, gas
Non-renewable resources are finite and will eventually deplete.
What is a major advantage of non-renewable energy resources?
Produce electricity continuously
Non-renewable resources can provide a stable and continuous power supply.
How do non-renewable energy resources compare in cost to renewable resources?
Cheaper than other renewable resources
Non-renewable energy sources often have lower upfront costs compared to renewable options.
What is a significant disadvantage of burning fossil fuels?
Release greenhouse gases when burnt
The combustion of fossil fuels contributes to climate change.
What kind of waste products can fossil fuels produce?
Coal produces huge amounts of ash
The ash from coal combustion must be managed, often leading to environmental concerns.
Describe the process of energy transfer in fossil fuel power generation.
Chemical energy from fuel transferred thermally into the kinetic store of the water/steam
This describes the conversion of chemical energy into mechanical energy.
What happens to the kinetic energy of steam in a power plant?
Transferred mechanically to the generator
The steam’s kinetic energy drives the generator to produce electricity.
What is the final step in the energy transfer process of a power plant?
Kinetic energy of generator transferred electrically to the grid
This completes the process by delivering electricity to consumers.
What is nuclear energy?
Energy released from nuclei atoms
This energy is harnessed for electricity generation.
List two advantages of nuclear energy.
- Produce electricity constantly
- One small amount produces a high amount of energy compared to coal and other sources
These advantages make nuclear energy a reliable option for power generation.
List two disadvantages of nuclear energy.
- High set up costs
- Produces dangerous nuclear waste that has to be stored safely for years
The management of nuclear waste poses significant challenges to the industry.
True or False: Nuclear energy has low setup costs.
False
Nuclear energy has high setup costs which can be a barrier to its adoption.
Fill in the blank: Nuclear energy produces dangerous _______ that has to be stored safely for years.
nuclear waste
The safe storage of nuclear waste is a critical issue in nuclear energy management.
How does the process of electricity generation from nuclear energy compare to coal?
Same process after nuclear energy is released from nuclei atoms
Both processes ultimately convert energy into electricity, but the source and method of energy release differ.
What is nuclear energy?
Energy released from nuclei atoms
This energy is harnessed for electricity generation.
List two advantages of nuclear energy.
- Produce electricity constantly
- One small amount produces a high amount of energy compared to coal and other sources
These advantages make nuclear energy a reliable option for power generation.
List two disadvantages of nuclear energy.
- High set up costs
- Produces dangerous nuclear waste that has to be stored safely for years
The management of nuclear waste poses significant challenges to the industry.
True or False: Nuclear energy has low setup costs.
False
Nuclear energy has high setup costs which can be a barrier to its adoption.
Fill in the blank: Nuclear energy produces dangerous _______ that has to be stored safely for years.
nuclear waste
The safe storage of nuclear waste is a critical issue in nuclear energy management.
How does the process of electricity generation from nuclear energy compare to coal?
Same process after nuclear energy is released from nuclei atoms
Both processes ultimately convert energy into electricity, but the source and method of energy release differ.
