national and global energy resources

Question 1

what is a renewable resource?

Answer 1

can be replenished in our lifetimes even after it has been used up

Question 2

what is a non renewable resource?

Answer 2

can’t be replenished once it has been used up, it is a finite resource

Question 3

examples of renewable resources

Answer 3

• solar
• wind
• geothermal
• wave
• tidal
• hydroelectric
• biofuel

Question 4

examples of non renewable resources

Answer 4

• fossil fuels; coal, oil, gas
• nuclear power

Question 5

what is involved in nuclear power stations?

Answer 5

the nuclei of uranium/plutonium atoms are split to produce energy

Question 6

differences between fossil fuel power stations and nuclear power stations

Answer 6

fossil fuels burning releases carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide (acid rain) emissions
nuclear burning doesn’t release carbon dioxide or sulphur dioxide but produces radioactive waste difficult to dispose of

Question 7

which one produces more energy - nuclear or burning of fossil fuels?

Answer 7

nuclear power stations

Question 8

why is there more use of fossil fuels to produce electricity?

Answer 8

• there is already existing infrastructure for extracting, transporting and processing fossil fuels
• easier to burn, and produce more energy (more efficient) than renewable resources
• currently widely available, more potential jobs

Question 9

energy use in daily life

Answer 9

• cooking
• heating, lighting
• transport
• machinery in factories

Question 10

what are the pros and cons of solar energy?

Answer 10

PROS : renewable, no carbon dioxide/ sulphur dioxide emissions, no fuel costs
CONS : unreliable as it depends on the weather, expensive to set up and a lot of land is required

Question 11

what are the pros and cons of wind energy?

Answer 11

PROS : renewable, no carbon dioxide or sulphur dioxide emissions, no fuel costs
CONS : unreliable as it depends on the weather, expensive to set up, disrupts habitats, lots of land required, visual and sound pollution

Question 12

what are the pros and cons of using biofuels?

Answer 12

PROS : renewable, ‘carbon-neutral’, no fuel costs
CONS : lots of land is required in specific climates

Question 13

what are the pros and cons of using geothermal energy?

Answer 13

PROS : renewable, no carbon dioxide or sulphur dioxide emissions, no fuel costs
CONS : location dependent, expensive

Question 14

what are the pros and cons of using tidal energy?

Answer 14

PROS: renewable, no carbon dioxide or sulphur dioxide emissions, no fuel costs
CONS: tides only come 2x a day, expensive, disrupts habitats

Question 15

what are the pros and cons of hydroelectric energy?

Answer 15

PROS: renewable, reliable, no carbon dioxide or sulphur dioxide emissions
CONS: disrupts habitats, location dependent (near lake/river), expensive to set up

Question 16

what are the pros and cons of using wave energy?

Answer 16

PROS: renewable, no carbon dioxide emissions, no fuel costs
CONS: expensive to set up, disrupts habitats and shipping, unreliable