National and global energy resources 1.3

Question 1

What is a renewable energy source?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Give four examples of renewable energy sources

Answer 2

• Wind energy
• Hydro-electricity
• Tidal energy
• Solar energy

Question 3

Give an example of a non-renewable energy resource

Answer 3

Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)

Question 4

What are advantages of generating power using gas rather than coal?

Answer 4

• Flexible generation: Gas power stations have short start-up times so can be switched on/off more readily
• Lower emissions of carbon dioxide

Question 5

State two disadvantages of using renewable energy resources to generate power

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

Explain the environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels

Answer 6

• CO2 contributes to the greenhouse effect, and causes global warming
• Sulphur dioxide leads to acid rain, which can damage buildings and crops

Question 7

State three advantages of fossil fuels as an energy resource

Answer 7

• Reliable: Not dependent on external factors so can generate power anytime
• Can produce large amounts of energy for a given quantity
• Still relatively abundant, so cost-effective

Question 8

State three advantages of nuclear power

Answer 8

• 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

Question 9

State three disadvantages of nuclear power

Answer 9

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

Question 10

How does hydroelectric power produce energy?

Answer 10

• Rainwater collects behind a dam
• When this water is released, it is used to turn a turbine
• This turbine turns a generator which produces electricity

Question 11

What are some disadvantages of using biofuels?

Answer 11

• When plants are burned or de, you need cay they release carbon dioxide
• In order to grow biofuels, you need to destroy land which leads to problems because:
  
  • The land could have been natural habitats
  • Destroying land may involve burning plants growing on it, which would release carbon dioxide
• Growing biofuels reduces the land available for growing food

Question 12

What are the advantages of tidal energy sources?

Answer 12

• They do not produce greenhouse gases
• They are quite reliable, as tides happen twice a day
• They are cheap to run as tides are natural, and so are free

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of hydroelectric power?

Answer 13

• The dam may cause flooding

- It can cost a lot to install the required infrastructure

Question 14

What are some advantages of solar panels?

Answer 14

• They don’t cause harm to the environment
• They are a renewable resource
• They can be used in remote areas where other types of energy are less accessible

Question 14

What are some advantages of solar panels?

Answer 14

• They don’t cause harm to the environment
• They are a renewable resource
• They can be used in remote areas where other types of energy are less accessible

Question 15

Give an example of a social factor which may act as a deterrent for certain types of energy production

Answer 15

• Visual pollution

- Sound pollution