Energy Resources and Electricity Generation Flashcards
What is a non-renewable energy resource
A Non-Renewable energy resource is an energy resource that cannot be readily replaced once it has been used. Ex: Fossil Fuels.
What is a renewable energy resource
A renewable energy resource is an energy resource that can readily be replaced once it has been used up. Ex: Solar Energy
What is global warming
Global Warming occurs when the high energy UV radiation gets trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere due to the greenhouse gases and can cause an overall increase in the Earth’s Global temperature.
Why is burning fossil fuels harmful
- They release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that can trap heat to increase global warming.
- It can release harmful gases into the atmosphere, like: Sulphur dioxide, which causes acid rain.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear fuel
Advantages:
+ Nuclear fuel is clean, in that it does not release any greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
+ It generates a large amount of energy, with a small amount of substance.
Disadvantages:
- Nuclear Fuel is non-renewable
- The nuclear reactors and power stations are very expensive to build.
- It is expensive and hard to dispose the resulting radioactive waste safely.
How do Nuclear Power Plants generate electricity
Nuclear Fission reactions occur between a neutron an a nuclear fuel to produce a new nuclei as well as heat energy. This heat energy is used to heat up water and turn it into steam, which then goes through a turbine to spin its blades. The spinning action of the blades causes a generator to turn. This generator electricity and sends it to homes via to national grid.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Hydroelectricity
Advantages:
+ It is a “clean” energy resource because it does not release any greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
+ Water is a renewable resource.
Disadvantages:
- High initial building costs.
- Can destroy surrounding landscapes and destroy habitats of animals.
How do Hydroelectric power plants generate electricity
The water that is stored in reservoirs contains a high amount of GPE. This water is released down the dam and this causes an increase in Kinetic energy, which is used to rotate the turbines that are connected to generators. These generators generate electricity.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of tidal power
Advantages:
+ It is a renewable resource
+ It is clean energy because it does not release any greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Disadvantages:
+ Building barrages can damage habitats and cause deforestation.
+ Initial costs can be very high.
How do Tidal Power station generate electricity
Tidal power stations generate electricity by transferring the kinetic energy produced by the movement of water into the turbines to spin the turbines that are connected to a generator, where the kinetic energy is transferred to electrical energy.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using wave energy
Advantages:
+ There are no greenhouse gases produced, which means that it is a clean energy
+ This method is renewable
Disadvantages:
- Location-specific
- Initial cost of building is very high.
How do Wave Energy Power stations generate electricity
When the water rises to the top, it causes air to be pushed through a chamber that contains a turbine connected to a generator. The Kinetic Energy of the air moving past is transferred to the kinetic energy of the Turbine. It then gets converted to Electrical energy by the generator.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind energy
Advantages:
+ It is clean energy because it does not release any greenhouse gases.
+ It is a renewable source of energy
Disadvantages:
- Location-Specific
- Can damage the view of landscapes
- Can affect bird and bat population
How to does wind power generate electricity
The kinetic energy of the wind is transferred as kinetic energy to the blades of the turbine. This turbine is connected to a generator that converts kinetic energy into electrical energy.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Solar Power
Advantages:
+ It is renewable
+ It is clean energy because it does not release any greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Disadvantages:
- It is specific to the location
- It cannot generate a lot of electricity.
- High initial cost.
