Fossil Fuels And Nuclear Power Flashcards
How where they formed?
They were formed by the remains of living organisms millions of years ago
What type of energy do they release?
They release heat energy
How much of the UK’s energy is generated from fossil fuels?
Three-quarters of electricity is generated by fossil fuels
What are the advantages of fossil fuels
Try are relatively cheap and easy to obtain
Much of the infrastructure is designed to run on fossil fuels
What are the disadvantages of fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy resources
There supply is limited and they will eventually run out
Coal and oil release sulfur dioxide gas when they burn which adds to the greenhouse effect
Fossil fuels also increase global warming
What is the greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect contributes to acid rain and global warming
What is nuclear power?
Nuclear power is a ways to produce electricity without emitting carbon and sulfur dioxide
What are the main chemicals used to create nuclear power?
Uranium and Plutonium
How is nuclear power to energy?
Hear is used to change water into steam in the boiler
The steam drives the turbine (heat to kinetic energy)
This drives the generator to produce electricity (- kinetic energy to electrical energy
What are the advantages of nuclear power?
Unlike foodie fuels, nuclear fuels do not produce carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide
1kg of nuclear fuel produces millions of times more energy than 1kg of coal
What are the disadvantages of nuclear fuels?
Like fossil fuels nuclear fuels are non-renewable energy resources
Although modern reactors are extremely safe, if there is an accident, large amounts of radioactive material could be released into the environment
Nuclear waste remains radioactive and is hazardous to health for thousands of years so it must be stored safely
Why can the waste material be used to create an atom bomb
The waste material cna never be used to create a ‘nuclear bomb’ because it’s the fission fragments from a nuclear chain reaction and not fissionable itself
What are renewable resources?
Renewable resources of fuel such as energy from the Sun and wind energy do not cause anything, however the equipment used to generate the power may be expensive to build. Certain resources are reliable, including tidal barrages and hydroelectric power. Others are less reliable, including wind and solar energy
What is he order of the quickest start-up time?
- Gas-fired station (shortest start-up time)
- Oil-fired station
- Coal-fired station
- Nuclear power station (longest start-up time)
What are fossil fuels?
Coal, Oil and Natural Gases
