HT Natural Resources Flashcards
What are the 2 ways to use natural resources
- Directly used for heat
2. Converted to electricity which we use to produce heat
How do you turn fossil fuels into heat
- Burn the fossil fuel or split the atoms
- Boil water to make steam
- Steam turns the blades of huge turbines
- Spin generators to create electricity
- A transformer increases voltage
- Electricity is sent over to distribution lines
- Local transformers reduce the voltage and sent it to you
Fossil fuels
Coal is burned to create electricity and natural gases burn in a furnace, fireplace or stove top
Geothermal energy
Heat is produced from he earths core used to heat or cool our homes which can also be used to generate electricity
Solar energy
Energy from the sun
Passive solar energy
Windows, walls, floors are designed to collect,store and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer. No need of mechanical or electrical devices
Active solar energy
Uses mechanical devices to collect, store and distribute heat
Passive solar heating system
Absorbs and stores heat from the sun directly within a structure
Active solar heating system
Collectors absorb solar energy and pump supplies part of a buildings heating or water heating needs
Photovoltaic cells
Convert solar energy into electricity
Wind power
The energy of moving air which turbines convert motion to electricity
Water energy
Energy from moving water can be converted to electricity like hydro-electric dams
Biomass energy
An energy source from recently living organisms.
Biomass is burned to produce heat or electricity.
Wood,plants,manure and animal product waste.
Pros of fossil fuel energy
Readily available
Cons of fossil fuel energy
Polluting
Non-renewable
Inefficient
Ecosystem damage
Pros of geothermal energy
Renewable
Efficient
Inexpensive to operate
Cons of geothermal energy
Geographically limited
High water use
Difficult to set up
Pros of solar energy
Renewable
Non-polluting
Plentiful
Free (source)
Efficient
Cons of solar energy
Not available at night (intermittent)
Storage needed
Space requirements
Pros of Wind energy
Renewable
Free (source)
Non-polluting
Efficient
Cons of wind energy
Turbines may endanger birds
Noisy
Ugly?
Space requirements
Expensive
Pros of water energy
Renewable
Non-polluting
Efficient
Cons of water energy
Flooding
Loss of habitat
Disturbs aquatic ecosystems
Cons of biomass
Polluting
Inefficient
Deforestation, land use problems
Example of passive solar energy
Painting the bottom of your pool black
Pros of biomass
Renewable
Plentiful
Reduces waste
