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Physics P1 > Generating Electricity > Flashcards

Generating Electricity Flashcards

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0
Q

How is the water heated in power stations

A

By burning fossil fuels

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1
Q

How do most power stations work

A
  • water is heated to produce steam
  • the steam drives a turbine
  • the turbine drives a generator that produces electricity
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2
Q

What are fossil fuels

A

Long- dead biological material

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3
Q

Why can a gas fired turbine be turned on very quickly

A

Because hot gases can turn the turbine directly and quickly, which turns the generator quickly

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4
Q

What is a biofuel

A

A fuel obtained from living or recently living organisms- made from animal or plant oils

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5
Q

Why are biofuels god to use in a gas fired power station

A

Because they are renewable

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6
Q

What fuel is used In nuclear power stations

A

Uranium, sometimes plutonium

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7
Q

What type of reaction happens in a nuclear reactor

A

Nuclear fission

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8
Q

How does a nuclear power station work

A

By nuclear fission, which releases energy, the energy is used to heat water, turning it into steam

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9
Q

Why are nuclear power stations more useful than fossil fuel stations

A

More energy is released per kilogram of uranium undergoing fission reactors than that from each kg of fossil fuel

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10
Q

Give examples of renewable energy

A
  • geothermal
  • hydroelectric
  • solar
  • wind
  • wave and tidal
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11
Q

What Do we mean when we say a renewable energy source

A

These energy sources can never be used up

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12
Q

How does a wind turbine generate electricity

A

Wind passing over the blades makes them rotate and drive a generator at the top of a narrow tower

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13
Q

How does a hydroelectric power station work

A

Water is collected in a reservoir, this water is allowed to flow downhill and turn turbines at the bottom of a hill

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14
Q

Why can hydroelectric power be used at times of high demand

A

At times of high demand the water can be pumped to the top of a hill to the reservoir, this means energy is stored. The water can then be released and fall through the turbines and transfer stored energy into electrical

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15
Q

What is the stored energy in the top reservoir of a pumped storage system

A

Gravitation potential

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16
Q

How does wave power work

A

The movement of the waves drive a floating turbine and turns a generator, then electricity is delivered to the shore by a cable

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17
Q

How does tidal power work

A

A barrage is built across an estuary, which traps the water at each tide. When the water is released, it falls to reach the rest of the sea level and drives a turbine

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18
Q

Why is wave power less reliable than tidal power

A

Because tides happen twice a day but there are not always big waves

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19
Q

In what form does solar energy travel though space

A

Infra-red/ electromagnetic radiation

20
Q

Why are there solar cells on calculators and watches

A

Because each solar cell only produces a small amount of energy, so they are useful to power small devices

21
Q

What is a solar panel made up of

A

Multiple solar cells

22
Q

How is water heated in a solar heating panel

A

There are pipes of water that go through the panel, the solar energy hits the black cover and heats the water directly

23
Q

How does a solar power tower work

A

Thousands of mirrors direct sunlight onto a water tank to heat water and produce steam

24
Q

How is geothermal energy produced

A

By radioactive processes in the earth, which heats the surrounding rock. Holes are drilled and cold water is fed into these holes, the water returns to the earth surface as steam. The steam drives turbines that turns generators.

25
Q

Why are only a few places able to have geothermal power stations

A

Because in many places the hot records are too low under the surface to reach

26
Q

Name four non renewable energy sources

A

Coal, oil, gas, uranium

27
Q

What does renewable energy source mean

A

That the energy being produced mean is equal to/more than the amount that is being used

28
Q

What are the advantages/ disadvantages of coal

A 
Ads
Bigger reserves than other fossil fuels
Reliable 
Disads 
Non renewable
Produces co2 (greenhouse gas) and so2 (acid rain)
29
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of oil

A 
Ads
Reliable
Disads
Non renewable 
Produces co2 and so2
30
Q

WhT are the advantages and disadvantages of gas

A 
Ads
Reliable
Disads
Non renewable
Produces co2
31
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear

A 
Ads
No production of pollutant gas
Free energy resource
Disads 
Non renewable 
Produces hadardous nuclear waste, which is difficult to dispose of 
Small risk of big nuclear accident
32
Q

What are the ads and disads of wind power

A 
Ads
Renewable 
No production of pollutant gas
Reliable in wet areas
Free enaergy source
Only works in wet hilly areas
Damming and area causes flooding and damages local economy
33
Q

What are the advantages and disads of wave power

A 
Ads
Renewable
No pollutant gas
Free  energy recourse 
Disads
Can b hazardous to boats 
Not reliable
34
Q

What are the ads and disads of tidal power

A 
Ads
Renewable
No pollutant gas
Reliable 
Free resource 
Disads
Only few estuaries are suitable 
Building. Barrage affects local ecology
35
Q

What are ads and disads of solar power

A 
Ads
Renewable 
No pollutant gas
Reliable in hot countries 
Disads 
Only produces small amount of energy
Unreliable in less sunny countries
36
Q

What are the ads and disads of geothermal power

A 
Ads
Renewable
No pollutant gas
Free
Disads
Only economically viable in few places
Drilling through rock is difficult and expensive
37
Q

What is the national grid

A

A network of pylons and cables that connects power stations to homes, schools, factories and other buildings

38
Q

How is electricity transported from the national grid across the country

A

By overhead pylons

39
Q

How is the electricity from the national grid transported in cities and towns

A

Underground cables

40
Q

What are the advantages of overhead cables compared to underground cables

A

They are easier to fix if fault occurs

They are cheaper

41
Q

Why are step up transformers used in the national grid

A

To increase the voltage to reduce the energy loss through cables, making the system more efficient

42
Q

Why are step down transformers used

A

To make sure the voltage is safe to use in homes

43
Q

What is the voltage of electricity used In homes

A

230 volts

44
Q

What is the “base load” demand

A

The constant amount of energy that is produced from nuclear, coal fired and oil fired power stations

45
Q

Why does this demand for energy vary between summer and winter

A

The demand increases in winter as it is colder and decreases in summer due to warmer weather

46
Q

How is the variable demand met

A

By gas fired power stations, pumped storage stations and renewable energy sources

47
Q

Which type of power station has the shortest start up time

A

Gas fired stations

48
Q

Which type o station has the longest start up time

A

Nuclear power stations

Physics P1 (6 decks)

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