Option Flashcards
Energy Degradation
Energy transfer from more concentration to less concentration
Useful energy sources
Release energy at a reasonable rate
Produce minimal pollution
Energy density formula
Energy released from fuel / volume of fuel consumed
Specific energy formula
Energy released from fuel / mass of fuel consumed
Problem with hydrogen and a fuel
The storage of a large volume of highly flammable gas. Solution is too store the hydrogen under pressure but this requires fuel tanks to be made out of thicker material that is heavier and expensive
Describe fossil fuels
-coal
- oil
- natural gas
There are burned and the heat used to produce steam, which turns a turbine, which turns a generator to produce electricity
Describe nuclear fission
A nuclear reaction, in which uranium is bombarded with neutrons produce heat. The heat can be used to generate steam to turn a turbine, which turns a generator to produce electricity
Describe Electrochemical cells
Batteries are portable sources of energy. A redox reaction generates electricity
Describe solar energy
A huge amount of solar energy reaches each. It from it only a small fraction will be used. Photovoltaic cells convert energy from the sun to electrical energy
Describe wind energy
Wind is used to turn a turbine to generate electricity
Describe hydroelectric energy
Rivers are dammed and water flows from a higher to lower level through a turbine . This process changes the potential energy. The turbine is connected to a generator
Describe tidal energy
Use the rising and falling rides to turn a turbine
Describe geothermal energy
Uses her from rocks underground, either hit water from underground is used directly or water is pumped down to generate steam that is used to turn a turbine
Describe biomass energy a
Energy from plants, derived from from growing trees and burning them or by growing sugar cane and fermenting the sugar to produce ethanol (used as a fuel additive)
Describe nuclear Fusion
Potentially an unlimited supply of energy through the process of joining hydrogen nuclei together with the release of a large amount of energy
