Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Physics (P.1) > Generating Energy > Flashcards

Generating Energy Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Physics 101 flashcards AP® Physics flashcards
0
Q

What are the three fossil fuels and nuclear?

A

Oil
Coal
Natural gas
Nuclear fuels-uranium and plutonium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

How are electricity generators in power stations driven

A

By turbines

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is an advantage of fossil fuel power stations

A

They are reliable, not dependant of the wether

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is a disadvantage of using fossil fuel power stations

A

They produce green house gasses (such as carbon dioxide) and sulphuric acid (causing acid rain)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How can we stop Carbon dioxide emission into the atmosphere

A

By using carbon captures and storage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is used in nuclear power stations as fuels

A

Uranium or plunonium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How is the energy released in a nuclear power station

A

By nuclear fission

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are advantages of using a nuclear power station

A

It doesn’t produce any greenhouse gasses, more energy is released per kg than in fossil fuels power stations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a disadvantage of nuclear power station

A

Radioactive wast is produced (stays dangerous for hundreds of years): an explosion at a nuclear power station would affect the area for many years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What do all nuclear, coal and oil power stations provide

A

They provide a constant amount of electricity (the base-load demand)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

That is the start-up time

A

It is the needed before a new power station can start producing electricity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What power station has the shortest start up time

A

Natural gas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Which power station has the longest start up time

A

Nuclear

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is ment by to decommission a nuclear power station

A

It means to dismantle and remove radioactive wast and fuel

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What can gas fired power stations and pumped storage stations (hydroelectric) do

A

They can meet variations in demand

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What type of energy source are biofuels

A

Renewable sources of energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are renewable source

A

They our sources which can be used again and again

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is a wind turbine

A

It is an electricity generator on top of a tall tower

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Who do wave generators produce electricity

A

By turning a floating generator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How are hydroelectric generators turned

A

By water running down hill

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How do tidal power stations work

A

They trap the water at each high tide and use it to turn the generators

21
Q

What are solar cells

A

Th are flat, solid cells that convert solar energy directly into electrity

22
Q

What do solar heating panels use the sun energy for

A

To heat water directly

23
Q

What are some advantages of renewable sources

A

They will never run out
They don’t produce greenhouse gases (but most are still bad for the environment in some ways, although less than non-renewables)
Many are in remote areas

24
Q

What are the disadvantages of renewable energy sources

A

They can affect plant and animal life
They are often weather dependant therefore are unreliable
They do not always produce as much electricity as fossil fuel power stations

25
Q

List all the renewable energy sources:

A 
Wind
Wave
Tidale
Solar
Hydroelectric 
Geothermal
Biofuels
Food
26
Q

Give three facts about non-renewables:

A

They will run out one day
They all do damage to the environment
They provide most of our energy

27
Q

What are all the energy sources

A

The fossil fuels (coal, gas and natural gas)
Uranium and plutonium
And biofuels

28
Q

What is the process of fossil fuels becomes electrical energy ink a power station?

A

The fossil fuel is burner to convert tits stored chemical energy into heat (thermal) energy
The heat energy is used to heat the water (or air in some power stations) to produce steam
The turbine is connected to a generator, which transfers kinetic energy into electrical energy

29
Q

What is the process of uranium, plutonium and biofuels turning into electrical energy in power stations?

A

In some power stations an energy source is used to heat water. The steam produced drives a turbine that is coupled to an electrical generator.
Uranium and plutonium, when energy from nuclear fission is used to heat water
Biofuels that can be burned to heat water

30
Q

What else apart from steam can drive the turbines in a power station?

A

Water

Wind

31
Q

What is the difference between a fossil fuel power station and a nuclear power station?

A

The difference is in the boiler-with nuclear fission of uranium or plutonium producing the heat to make the steam to turn the turbines

32
Q

What are the advantages of wind power?

A

No pollution once constructed
No fuel cost and minimal running costs
There is no permanent damage to the landscape-is you remove the turbines, you remove the noise and the view returns to normal

33
Q

What are the disadvantages of wind power?

A

A little pollution made during manufacturing
Spoils views
1500 wind turbines will replace one coal-fired power station
Can be noisy
No power when the wind stops and it’s impossible to increase supply when there is extra demand
May cause health problem for those living near the wind turbines

34
Q

What are the advantages of solar cells?

A

No pollution
In sunny countries solar power is a very reliable source of energy
Solar power can still be cost effective even in cloudy countries like Britain
The energy is free and running costs almost nil

35
Q

What are the disadvantages of solar cells?

A

They do use quite a lot of energy to manufacture in the first place
Only reliable during the day
Initial costs are high
Solar cells are usually used to generate electricity on a relatively small scale e.g. Individual homes
It’s often not practical or too expensive to connect them to the national gird-the cost of connecting them can be enormous compared with try value of the electricity generated

36
Q

What are the advantages of hydroelectric power?

A

There is no pollution
It can provide an immediate response to an increased demand for electricity
Good for UK as there’s no problem with reliability except in time of draught
There’s no fuel and minimal running costs
Useful to generate electricity Ina small scale in remote areas
Small scale production e.g in remount areas

37
Q

What are the disadvantages of hydroelectric power?

A

Not good for courtiers which have draughts
Initial cost is high big impact on the environment due to the flooding of the valley (rotting vegetation releases methane and CO2) and possible loss of habitats for some species (sometimes loss of whole villages)
The reservoirs can also look very unsightly when they dry up, putting hydroelectric power stations in remote villages tends to reduce their impact on humans

38
Q

What is geothermal energy?

A

In some volcanic area hot water and steam rise to the surface. The steam can be trapped and used to drive turbines. This is known as geothermal energy

39
Q

What are the advantages of small-scale production of energy?

A

Useful locally
Useful in some areas e.g. Hydroelectric in emote areas
Useful for some uses e.g. Solar cells for road signs

40
Q

What is the problem with small-scale energy production?

A

It is sometime uneconomical to connect such generation to the National Grid

41
Q

Using different energy sources has differs effects on the environment. These effects include:

A

The release of substances into the atmosphere
The production of wast materials
Noise and visual pollution
The destruction of wildlife habitats

42
Q

What are the advantages of geothermal?

A

Free energy source

No production of polluting gases

43
Q

What are the disadvantages of geothermal power?

A

Only economically viable in very few places

Drilling through large depth of rock is difficult and expensive

44
Q

How can you prevent carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere?

A

We can catch it and store it in carbon captures or carbon strangers.
Some of the best natural containers are old oil and gas field such as those under the North Sea

45
Q

Which power stations have the shortest start-up time?

A

Fossil fule

Gase-fired

46
Q

In some power stations an energy source us used to heat up water. How does it work?

A

The steam produced drives a turbine that is coupled to an electrical generator.

47
Q

What happens in a fossil fuel power station?

A

They are burned to hear the water or air

48
Q

What happens in an uranium and plutonium power station?

A

Energy from the nuclear fission is used to heat the water

49
Q

What happens in a biofuels power station?

A

They can be burned to heat water

50
Q

What can water and wind be used for?

A

To directly drive a trubine

51
Q

What can sun radiation produce?

A

Electricity directly

Physics (P.1) (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions