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Physics 1 > National and global energy resources > Flashcards

National and global energy resources Flashcards

1
Q

What is a renewable energy resource?

A

An energy resource which can be replenished as it is being used up

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2
Q

Give seven examples of renewable energy resources

A
  • Wind
  • Tides
  • Solar
  • Bio-Fuel
  • Water Waves
  • Geothermal
  • Hydroelectricity
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3
Q

What is a non-renewable energy resource?

A

A resource that cannot replenish as it is being used up

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4
Q

Give four examples of non-renewable energy resources

A
  • Coil
  • Oil
  • (Natural) Gas
  • Nuclear Fuels
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5
Q

State two disadvantages of using renewable energy resources to generate power

A
  • Output often determined by external factors (like wind speed), so supply is uncertain
  • Generating power through other means is often more efficient and economically beneficial
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6
Q

Describe how fossil fuels generate electricity

A

Burning fossil fuels > heats water > steam produced > turns turbines > turns generator > electricity produced

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7
Q

State some advantages of using fossil fuels to generate electricity

A
  • Provide a cost-effective resource that produces large amounts of energy and is readily available
  • Running costs are fairly low
  • Reliable - there’s enough fuel to meet current demand and power plants can respond quickly to changes in demand
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8
Q

Explain the environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels

A
  • Carbon dioxide contributes to the greenhouse effect, and causes global warming
  • Sulphur dioxide leads to acid rain, which can damage buildings and crops
  • Coil mining makes a mess of the landscape
  • Oil spillages cause serious environmental problems, affecting animals
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9
Q

Describe how nuclear fuels generates electricity

A
  • Nuclear fission of nuclear fuels e.g. uranium or plutonium releases the energy to heat water into steam
  • The steam drives turbines which drives a generator that produces electricity
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10
Q

State three advantages of nuclear power

A
  • Very large amounts of energy for relatively small quantities of fuel
  • Doesn’t release greenhouse gases and so doesn’t contribute to climate change
  • Low fuel costs
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11
Q

State three disadvantages of nuclear power

A
  • Produces nuclear waste which is harmful to humans & must be safely stored for centuries.
  • Non-Renewable energy source
  • Risk of nuclear accidents, which have fatal consequences on humans and the environment
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12
Q

Describe how hydroelectric power generates electricity

A
  • Rainwater is collected behind a dam
  • When this water is released, it is used to turn a turbine
  • The turbine turns a generator which produces electricity
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13
Q

State some advantages of using hydroelectric power to generate electricity

A
  • No pollution
  • Can provide an immediate response to an increased demand for electricity
  • Reliable - except in cases of drought
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14
Q

State some disadvantages of using hydroelectric power to generate electricity

A
  • The dam may cause flooding - can lead to rotting vegetation (which releases CO2 and CH4) and possible loss of habitat (for both animals and humans)
  • Can cost a lot to install the required infrastructure
  • The reservoirs can also cause visual pollution
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15
Q

Describe how wave power generates electricity

A
  • Waves force air through a turbine

- The turbine turns a generator which produces electricity

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16
Q

State some advantages of using wave power to generate electricity

A
  • No pollution

- No fuel costs and minimal running costs

17
Q

State some disadvantages of using wave power to generate electricity

A
  • Disturb the seabed and the habitats of marine animals
  • Visual pollution
  • Fairly unreliable since waves tend to die out when the wind drops
  • Never likely to provide energy on a large scale
18
Q

Describe how tidal barrages generate electricity

A
  • Tide water is held back behind the barrage

- The water is eventually allowed to flow through turbines connected to generators, generating electricity

19
Q

State some advantages of using tidal barrages to generate electricity

A
  • No greenhouse gases produced
  • Quite reliable as tides happen twice a day
  • Cheap to run as tides are natural
20
Q

State some disadvantages of using tidal barrages to generate electricity

A
  • Prevents access to boats
  • Visual pollution
  • Altering the habitat of the wild life
21
Q

Describe how bio-fuels generate electricity

A
  • Bio-fuel is let in a boiler and is burned
  • Energy is released and water is heated to produce steam
  • The steam turns a turbine which turns a generator, generating electricity
22
Q

State some advantages of using bio-fuels to generate electricity

A
  • Quite reliable - crops take a short time to grow

- Renewable

23
Q

State some disadvantages of using bio-fuels to generate electricity

A
  • Cannot respond to immediate energy demands
  • When plants are burned or decay, they release CO2
  • Bio-fuel production also creates CH4 emissions
  • Large areas of forest have to be cleared - lots of natural habitats are lost
24
Q

Describe how geothermal power is used to generate electricity

A
  • Hot water and steam from underground rises

- Drives a turbine which is connected to a generator, generating electricity

25
Q

State some advantages of using geothermal power to generate electricity

A
  • Reliable
  • Does not impact the environment
  • Cost effective once the power station has been built
26
Q

State some disadvantages of using geothermal power to generate electricity

A
  • There are not many suitable locations for the power stations
  • Cost of building a power station is high
27
Q

Describe how solar cells are used to generate electricity

A
  • Converts the sun radiation directly into electricity

- Can be plugged straight into electrical components

28
Q

State some advantages of using solar cells to generate electricity

A
  • Reliable in some countries
  • Renewable
  • No pollutants
  • Best source of energy for small devices e.g. calculators
29
Q

State some disadvantages of using solar cells to generate electricity

A
  • Not useful in countries which are not exposed to the sun such as Britain
  • Used for small scale projects
30
Q

Describe how wind power is used to generate electricity

A
  • Turbine blades rotate in the wind
  • Gears are used to link the turbine blades to the generator
  • The turbine drives a generator, which produces electricity
31
Q

State some advantages of using wind power to generate electricity

A
  • No pollutants

- No fuel costs and minimal running costs

32
Q

State some disadvantages pf using wind power to generate electricity

A
  • Many wind turbines are needed to generate a substantial amount of electricity
  • Noise pollution
  • Visual pollution
  • Unreliable - the wind is not always blowing
  • Initial costs are high

Physics 1 (7 decks)

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