P1.4 Methods we use to generate electricity

Question 1

We burn fuels to…

Answer 1

Heat the water

Question 2

The water turns into…

Answer 2

Steam

Question 3

The steam then…

Answer 3

Turns the turbine

Question 4

The turbine then powers the…

Answer 4

Generator

Question 5

The generator creates…

Answer 5

Electricity

Question 6

The electricity travels to the…

Answer 6

Transformer

Question 7

At the transformer the voltage is…

Answer 7

Stepped up

Question 8

The electricity then travels down the…

Answer 8

Electrical lines

Question 9

The electricity then gets…

Answer 9

Stepped down by another transformer

Question 10

The electricity then…

Answer 10

Enters the home

Question 11

What are the non renewable energy resources?

Answer 11

Coal, Oil, Natural Gas and Nuclear fuels (uranium and plutonium)

Question 12

What are the renewable energy resources?

Answer 12

Wind, Waves, Tides, Hydroelectric, Solar, Geothermal, Food, Biofuels

Question 13

What is a disadvantage of renewable energy?

Answer 13

It doesn’t produce as much energy as the others do and they are often unreliable

Question 14

What energy sources are used in power stations?

Answer 14

Fossil fuels, uranium, plutonium an biofuels

Question 15

What sources are unreliable?

Answer 15

Wind, solar, tidal and geothermal

Question 16

What causes global warming?

Answer 16

Fossil fuels and biomass

Question 17

What causes acid rain?

Answer 17

Fossil fuels

Question 18

What is not renewable?

Answer 18

Fossil fuels and nuclear-fuel

Question 19

Which energy sources are free?

Answer 19

Wind, tidal, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric and biomass

Question 20

What does Nuclear power stations require?

Answer 20

High decommissioning costs

Question 21

What is the decommissioning of nuclear power stations?

Answer 21

The dismantling of the power station and removal of the waste

Question 22

What is hydroelectric energy good for?

Answer 22

Sudden electricity demand

Question 23

What can wind and tidal drive directly?

Answer 23

Turbines

Question 24

Where do solar panels draw energy from?

Answer 24

The sun

Question 25

Advantages of wind power

Answer 25

No pollution, no fuel costs, low running costs

Question 26

Disadvantages of wind power

Answer 26

Eyesore, noise pollution, unreliable, depend on the weather, high initial costs

Question 27

Advantages of Solar power

Answer 27

No pollution, reliable in sunny countries, energy is free, no running costs

Question 28

Disadvantages of Solar power

Answer 28

High initial costs

Question 29

Advantages of hydroelectric power

Answer 29

Immediate response, reliable, no fuel, low running costs

Question 30

Disadvantages of hydroelectric power

Answer 30

Damage to the environment, eyesore, loss of habitat, high initial costs

Question 31

Advantages of wave power

Answer 31

No pollution, no fuel costs, minimal running costs

Question 32

Disadvantages of wave power

Answer 32

Eyesore, hazard to boats, high initial costs

Question 33

Advantages of tidal power

Answer 33

No pollution, reliable, excellent for storing energy, no fuel costs, minimal running costs

Question 34

Disadvantages of tidal power

Answer 34

Prevent boat access, eyesore, destroying habitats, high initial costs

Question 35

Advantages of geothermal energy

Answer 35

Free energy, no environmental problems

Question 36

Disadvantages of geothermal energy

Answer 36

Aren't many suitable locations, cost outweighs profit, not much energy out of it

Question 37

What are some energy sources useful for, e.g. hydroelectric and solar?

Answer 37

Remote areas

Question 38

What substances do fossil fuels release?

Answer 38

Carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide

Question 39

What waste materials can be produced?

Answer 39

Oil spillages, Nuclear waste

Question 40

What are problems with many renewable and some non renewable energy sources?

Answer 40

High noise and visual pollution

Question 41

What happens to many habitats in the construction of energy plants?

Answer 41

They are destroyed

Question 42

What is carbon-capture?

Answer 42

Collecting the CO2 before it is released from the power stations and pumping it into empty gas fields and oil fields such as those under the north sea. It can be safely stored without adding to the greenhouse effect

Question 43

Where is electricity distributed via?

Answer 43

The national grid

Question 44

What is the problem with a high current?

Answer 44

Lots of energy lost through heat in the cables

Question 45

How is loss of energy through the cables prevented?

Answer 45

Increasing the voltage

Question 46

What are the main parts of the national grid?

Answer 46

The power stations, transformers and pylons

Question 47

What are transformers?

Answer 47

They step the voltage up at one end, for efficient transmission, and then bring it back down to safe, usable levels at the other end before entering homes

Question 48

What happens at a step-up transformer?

Answer 48

The voltage is increased

Question 49

What happens at a step-down transformer?

Answer 49

The voltage is decreased