Energy resources

Question 1

What are renewable energy resources?

Answer 1

resources that will not eventually run out

most do not emit pollution/carbon dioxide

Question 2

What are non-renewable energy resources?

Answer 2

resources that will eventually run out

they are available all the time, unlike some renewable resources

Question 3

Name and explain 5 renewable energy resources

Answer 3

1) Bio fuels
- animal or plant matter (biomass) used to produce thermal (by burning) or electrical energy
- can also be used to power cars

2) Hydroelectricity
- generates electricity
- water behind a dam flows down a pipe
- a turbine that generates electricity is turned

3) Wind turbines
- use kinetic energy from the winds to generate electricity

4) Tidal power
- the rise/fall of the tides and tidal currents are used to generate electricity

5) Solar cells
- solar energy from the Sun is converted directly to electricity
- solar energy can also be used directly to cook food or heat water`

Question 4

Name and explain 2 non-renewable energy resources

Answer 4

1) Nuclear fuels
- e.g. uranium
- used to generate electricity
- and as energy sources in spacecraft

2) Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)
- used to generate electricity
- to power transport
- to heat homes and for cooking

Question 5

Suggest the advantages and disadvantages of using biofuels to power cars compared with using solar power to power cars

Answer 5

biofuels advantages:

• reliable
• can be replaced
• can be readily grown and converted to fuels for use in cars
• can be stored
• renewable
• cheap

biofuels disadvantages:

• gives off carbon dioxide/greenhouses gases when burnt
• not renewable if not regrown

solar advantages:

• renewable
• almost infinite energy supply
• no cost for the solar energy

solar disadvantages:

• solar cells are expensive to make/buy
• unreliable (at night or cloudy days)
• difficult to store the energy in electrical form
• production of cells is polluting

Question 6

Describe how different renewable and non-renewable resources are used for transport.

Answer 6

Renewable and non-renewable energy resources can both be used in power stations, leading to the production of electricity which is used to power trains.

Electrical energy can also be supplied from other renewable sources, such as solar, hydroelectric and wind.

Biofuel, in the form of methanol, is an example of how renewable fuel can be used to power cars, and solar power is also being developed to do more of this.

Petrol and diesel, from oil, are examples of non-renewable fuels that are used to power cars.

Question 7

Draw diagrams to show the energy transfers that take place

a) in hydroelectricity
b) when biofuels are used for transport

Answer 7

a) diagram should show gpe -> kinetic -> electrical (thermal energy as wasted)
b) diagram should show chemical -> heat or… chemical -> kinetic