Generating Electricity Flashcards
1
Q
What are the advantages of underground cables?
A
- Cannot be seen
- Not a hazard to aircraft
- Less likely to damaged by the weather
2
Q
What are the disadvantages of overhead cables?
A
- Higher risk of electric shock
- Can be damaged by weather
- Hazard to aircraft
- Can spoil the view
3
Q
What are the disadvantages of underground cables?
A
- Harder to access for repairs
- Cost more to repair
- More expensive to repair
- Needs thicker cables
- Needs a cooling system
- Disruptive to land to install
- Needs electrical insulating
4
Q
What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind turbines?
A
Adv. -Wind is a renewable resource -They don't produce pollutants Dis. -Wind farms are noisy -Don't run in low or high wind speeds (They are unreliable)
5
Q
What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar cells?
A
Adv. -Renewable -No fuel costs -No pollutants produced Dis. -Expensive and inefficient -Produce less at night/when its cloudy
6
Q
Evaluate geothermal energy.
A
Adv. -Renewable -Reliable -No fuel costs -No pollutants Dis. -Only a few locations where it is suitable
7
Q
What are the advantages of overhead cables?
A
- Easy to access for repairs
- Lower install costs than underground cables
- Air acts as an insulator
- Cooled by the air
8
Q
Why does the national grid use transformers?
A
The supply from the power station is stepped-up to 400,000V so that there is less energy lost as heat in the power lines.
It is stepped-down to 230V to be used by homes and business.
9
Q
Evaluate nuclear fission power stations.
A
Adv. -Reliable -Good for constant baseline power supply -Don't produce CO2 Dis. -Expensive to build and decommission -Long decommission time -Slow start-up times -Slow to adjust output -Produce radioactive waste