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Physics 1 > Energy Sources > Flashcards

Energy Sources Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the non-renewable energy sources?

A

Coal
Oil
Natural gas
Nuclear

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2
Q

What are the pros of renewable energy sources?

A

They will never run out

They cause much less damage than fossil fuels and nuclear power

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3
Q

What are the pros of non-renewable energy sources?

A

They produce a lot of energy
They already provide most of our energy
Always available

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4
Q

What is the basic structure of a power station?

A
  1. Fossil fuel is burned, converting its chemical energy to thermal energy
  2. Thermal energy heats water (sometimes air) to produce steam
  3. Steam turns a turbine, converting thermal energy into kinetic energy
  4. Turbine is connected to a generator, which transfers kinetic energy into electrical energy
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5
Q

How are nuclear power stations different to other power stations?

A

Nuclear fission of uranium or plutonium produces the heat which makes the steam

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6
Q

Which power stations take the longest amount of time to start up?

A

Nuclear power stations

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7
Q

What are the pros of wind turbines?

A

PROS:

Minimal running costs
No permanent landscape damage
No pollution

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8
Q

What are the pros of solar cells?

A

PROS:

No environmental damage
Very low running costs
Ideal for small scale production
Very reliable

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9
Q

How is hydroelectric power provided?

A
  1. A valley is flooded by building a dam
  2. Rainwater is allowed out through turbines
  3. The connected generator transfers kinetic energy into electrical energy
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10
Q

What are the pros of hydroelectric power?

A

PROS:

There is no pollution
It can provide an immediate response to electricity demands
It is very reliable (except for in droughts)
Minimal running costs
Good for remote areas

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11
Q

What is wave power?

A
  1. Wave-powered turbines are placed around the coast

2. The up and down motion of the waves drives a generator

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12
Q

What are the pros of wave power?

A

PROS:

No pollution
Minimal running costs
Very useful on small islands

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13
Q

How do tidal barrages work?

A
  1. Tidal barrages containing turbines are built across river estuaries
  2. The tide fills up the estuary to a height of several metres, driving the turbines
  3. The water can then be allowed through the turbines at a controlled speed
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14
Q

What are the pros of tidal power?

A

PROS:

No pollution
Reliable - two tides a day near predicted height
Good for storing energy for demand periods
Minimal running costs

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15
Q

How do geothermal energy stations work?

A
  1. The decay of radioactive elements deep in the earth heats rocks near the surface in volcanic areas
  2. Steam and hot water rise to the surface and drive a generator
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16
Q

What are the pros of geothermal energy?

A

PROS:

This energy is free
No environmental issues
Can heat buildings directly

17
Q

Which fossil fuel releases the most CO2?

A

Coal, then oil, then gas

18
Q

What harmful gases can be released from burning fossil fuels?

A

CO2, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming

Sulfur dioxide, causing acid rain

19
Q

What are the renewable energy sources?

A 
Wind
Waves
Tides
Hydroelectric
Solar
Geothermal 
Food
Biofuels
20
Q

What is an environmental issue with coal?

A

Coal mining makes a mess of a landscape

21
Q

What is an environmental issue with oil?

A

Oil spills, although they are avoided, will always happen, and cause serious problems effecting mammals and birds and their habitats

22
Q

What is an environmental issue with nuclear power?

A

Nuclear waste is incredibly dangerous and difficult to dispose of

There is always a risk of a major catastrophe like Chernobyl in 1986

23
Q

What are the cons of renewable energy sources?

A

They do not provide as much energy

Many of them are unreliable as they rely on weather

24
Q

What are cons of non-renewable energy sources?

A

They will all run out one day

They cause damage to the environment

25
Q

What are the cons of wind turbines?

A

CONS:

Spoil the view
Loud
Impossible to increase supply
Unreliable due to wind

26
Q

What are the cons of solar cells?

A

CONS:

Expensive to manufacture
Not practical to connect to National Grid
Only reliable in the daytime

27
Q

What are the cons of hydroelectrical power?

A

CONS:

Flooding causes vegetation to rot and release methane and CO2
Habitat can be lost
Reservoirs can look ugly when dried up
Initial costs are high

28
Q

What are the cons of wave power?

A

CONS:

Spoil the view
Hazardous to boats
Unreliable due to wind
Initial costs are high

29
Q

What are the cons of tidal power?

A

CONS:

Prevent free access by boats 
Spoil the view
Alter habitats 
Lower tides provide significantly less energy
Only work at certain times of the day
30
Q

What are the cons of geothermal energy?

A

CONS:

Not many suitable locations for power plants
The power plants are expensive to build

Physics 1 (8 decks)

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