Energy ressources - Lithosphere

Question 1

Describe fossil fuels

Answer 1

• Oil and natural gas are formed by small marine animals and algae that died and sank to the bottom of the sea a long time ago. They were then covered with silt, sand and minerals
• Coal is formed from terrestrial swamps being buried and compressed by silt and sand
• Combustion of fossil fuel emits by-products such as CO2, CH4, SO2, NOx

Question 2

Pros/Cons of fossil fuels.

Answer 2

Pros:

• Low cost
• “transportable”

Cons:

• More GHG
• More global warming
• Deforestation/Habitat loss
• Non-renewable
• Pollutants (acid rain)

Question 3

Name the worst type of fossil fuel.

Answer 3

Tar sands

Question 4

Describe nuclear energy

Answer 4

• Energy produced by atomic fission mainly Uranium (opposite of fusion)
• Waste needs to be isolated from our ecosystem for at least 100,000 years before it deteriorates due to natural radioactivity

Question 5

Describe uranium/nuclear energy

Pros and cons?

Answer 5

• Uranium is the main form used
• Handful of uranium = 7 tons of coal

Pros:

• Can build a plant anywhere
• Energy efficient

Cons:
- Radioactive waste (cancer causing)

Question 6

Describe geothermal energy

Pros and cons?

Answer 6

• Formed from the internal heat of the Earth’s molten rock (vocanic)
• Water is circulated deep underground which will be heated by lava and rise back to the surface which will be transformed into electrical energy or used directly to heat

Pros:
- Renewable

Cons:

• Location dependant
• Volcanic activity