P1 - Generating Electricty

Question 1

What goes on in power stations?

Answer 1

Water is heated to produce steam which drives a turbine that turns a generator that produces electricity

Question 2

What energy is used to heat the water in a power station?

Answer 2

Fossil fuels (coal,oil and gas)

Question 3

What’s a biofuel

Answer 3

Fuel obtained from living or recently dead organisms. Renewable source of energy

Question 4

What happens in a nuclear power station

Answer 4

Uranium atoms undergo nuclear fission which releases energy. There are many uranium nuclei so lots of fission take place. This releases a lot of energy that turns water into steam.

Question 5

How can water create energy

Answer 5

Hydroelectric power - falling water, gravitational potential
(In times of low demand the water is pumped back to the top)

Wave power - drives a turbine - generator

Tidal power - as the tide comes in it gets trapped and the gravitational potential energy is used to drive a turbine and to generate energy

Question 6

What’s geothermal energy

Answer 6

Radioactive processes that occur in the mantle that heats the rocks. Holes are drilled and cold water is pumped to push the hot water/rock to the surface.

Question 7

What is one advantage to fossil fuels over renewable energy sources

Answer 7

They’re reliable

Question 8

What are the functions of step up and step down transformers

Answer 8

Step up increases the voltage to increase efficiency and step down decrease the voltage to make it safe for homes (230V)

Question 9

When there is a rise in demand for electricity what energy sources are used (can be quickly turned on)

Answer 9

Gas fired power stations

Question 10

What sources of energy form the base load (take a while to turn on)

Answer 10

Nuclear, coal and oil power stations