Fossil Fuels Flashcards
What are fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels are fuels formed when organic matter that has been buried deep within the earth has been subject to heat and pressure over millions of years
Examples of fossil fuels
Coal
Gas
Oil
Uses of fossil fuels
Generating electricity
Heating
Cooking
Problems with using fossil fuels
Limited reserves
Rising cost of fossil fuels
Pollution
Gases produced when fossil fuels are burnt
Carbon dioxide
Sulphur dioxide
Nitrogen dioxide
Effects of Acid Rain
Damage statues
Damage soils and forests
Damage crops
Pollution from burnt fossil fuels
Particulate matter
Carbon monoxide
Heavy metal ions
Advantages of Solar Energy
Low maintenance and operating costs
Clean source of energy
Energy can be stored in batteries
Disadvantages of Solar Energy
High start-up cost
Poor performance on cloudy days
Large production requires much space
Variables affecting solar energy
Latitude
Altitude
Season
Variables affecting wind energy
Wind speed
Wind consistency
Surface
Advantages of Wind energy
Renewable
Clean source of energy
Can be stored in batteries
Disadvantages of Wind energy
High costs in constructing the plant
Wind is variable between seasons
Vulnerable to stormy weather
Advantages of Hydro-electric energy
Clean source of energy
Renewable
Flexible
