Generating electricity

Question 1

What are the non renewable sources of energy?

Answer 1

Coal, oil, gas, nuclear

Question 2

What are the renewable sources of energy?

Answer 2

Wind, solar, waves, tidal, hydroelectric, geothermal, food, biofuels

Question 3

How do energy sources create electricity?

Answer 3

The fuel is burnt to release heat which heats water until it becomes steam and turns a turbine which turns a generator creating electricity

Question 4

What fuel do nuclear reactors use?

Answer 4

Uranium or plutonium

Question 5

How do nuclear reactors work?

Answer 5

The nuclear fission of the fuel heats water then it works in the same way as a normal power station

Question 6

Wind power pros and cons?

Answer 6

Pros: no pollution, renewable, no permanent damage to landscape, low running costs
Cons: noise pollution, unreliable, high initial costs

Question 7

Solar cells pros and cons?

Answer 7

Pros: no pollution, can be used in remote places, can be very reliable in some countries, low running costs, can be small scale
Cons: can be unreliable in some countries, high initial costs, not practical to connect to the national grid

Question 8

Hydroelectric pros and cons?

Answer 8

Pros: no pollution, can easily meet demand, very reliable
Cons: huge habitat loss due to flooding, high initial costs

Question 9

What is pumped storage?

Answer 9

In times of low demand, water can be pumped to the top to a reservoir above the dam, then released again at times of high demand

Question 10

Wave pros and cons?

Answer 10

Pros: no pollution, low running costs
Cons: visual pollution, unreliable, hard to maintain, high initial costs

Question 11

Tidal pros and cons?

Answer 11

Pros: no pollution, reliable, good for storing energy, low running costs
Cons: high initial costs, visual pollution

Question 12

Geothermal pros and cons?

Answer 12

Pros: no pollution, free energy
Cons: high initial cost, not many suitable locations

Question 13

Biofuels pros and cons?

Answer 13

Pros: carbon neutral, renewable
Cons: waste food and land space, need to modify engines

Question 14

What is carbon capture?

Answer 14

When carbon is collected and stored underground to reduce carbon emissions

Question 15

Which power station has the highest set up costs?

Answer 15

Nuclear and hydroelectric

Question 16

Which power station has the quickest set up time?

Answer 16

Gas

Question 17

What do step up transformers do and why?

Answer 17

They increase voltage which decreases current which limits energy lost through heat

Question 18

What do step down transformers do and why?

Answer 18

The decrease voltage and increase current which makes it safer

Question 19

What are the pros and cons of overhead cables?

Answer 19

Pros: low set up costs, easy to access, easy to set up
Cons:lots of maintenance needed, visual pollution, affected by weather, less reliable

Question 20

What are the pros and cons of underground cables?

Answer 20

Pros: not much maintenance needed, no visual pollution, not affected by weather, more reliable
Cons: high set up costs, hard to access, hard to set up

Question 21

What are the pros and cons of nuclear?

Answer 21

Pros: lots of energy from a small amount of fuel, no CO(2) emitted
Cons: high set up costs, radioactive waste, non-renewable

Question 22

What are the pros and cons of coal, gas and oil?

Answer 22

Pros: cheap, low set up cost
Cons: produce harmful gases, non renewable