P3 Flashcards
What is a biofuel
Any fuel from living or recently living materials, such as animal waste
Carbon neutral
A biofuel from a living organism that takes in as much CO2 from the atmosphere as it releases when the fuel is burned
Geothermal energy
Energy released by radioactive substances deep within the earth
National grid
The network of cables and Transformers used to transfer electricity from power stations to consumers (i.e, homes, shops, offices, factories etc)
Nuclear fuel
Substance used nuclear reactors that releases energy due to nuclear fission
Nucleus
Tiny positively charged object composed of protons and neutrons at the centre of every atom
Reactor core
The thick steel vessel used to contain fuel rods, Control rods and the moderator in a nuclear fission reactor
Renewable energy
Energy from natural sources that is always being replenished so it never runs out
What is a non-renewable energy source
Nonrenewable energy resources take millions of years to form and will eventually run out as there is a finite supply earth
What is a renewable energy resource
Renewable energy resources will not run out and will be around for millions of years
What is meant by a fuel
If you are something that releases energy when burned via combustion or nuclear fission
Give three examples of fossil fuels
Coal, oil, natural gas
Give five examples of biofuels
Wood, ethanol, methane, animal waste, sugar cane
How do you access energy from fuels
Energy stores access through combustion ( burning in the presence of oxygen ) or through nuclear fission in nuclear reactors
How does a wind turbine work
Wind over the blades forces the turbine to turn and therefore the generator, producing electricity
Advantages of wind turbines
Wind is free No pollutants produced Some will think they add to a landscape Can be used in remote locations Land beneath wind turbine can still be used ( i.e for farming )
Disadvantages of wind turbines
Unreliable ( wind speed varies ) No wind, electricity Noisy Some people dislike how they look Huge wind farms would be required to provide a town with sufficient electricity
How does hydroelectric power work
1.Water is held behind a dam storing and gravitational potential energy
2.Water runs through pipes ( gravitational potential to kinetic energy )
passing through a turbine
3. Turbine connected to generator, producing electricity
Advantages of hydroelectric power
- Reliable constant rate of electric generation
- No pollution
- Water can be saved for use when electricity demand is high
- Dams are designed to last for many decades
- The lake can serve as a tourist attraction
Disadvantages of hydroelectric power
- Very expensive to build
- Must operate for decades before profitable
- Flooding of large areas required
- People sometimes must leave their homes for land to be flooded
- Natural habitats destroyed
How does tidal power work
Water from the high tide is trapped between a barrage and is then released through turbines, turning them which turns the generator to generate electricity
How does wave power work
A wave generator use wave motion to make a generator move up and down, this turns the generator to generate electricity which is transferred to the shore via a cable
Advantages of tidal and wave power
- No pollution
- Free energy resource
- Can predict the tides
- Infinite resource
- Low maintenance cost
Disadvantages of tidal and wave power
- Cost of set up is high
- Generation is from short period at tide peaks
- Are you ideal locations along the coast lines
- Can disrupt sea life
- Must withstand harsh storms
Advantages of renewable energy
- Zero fuel costs
- Sustainable
- No pollution ( clean, green)
- Hydro can meet sudden demand
- Solar good for remote locations
- Many require little maintenance to keep running
- Many technology is improving to produce more electricity and becoming less expensive, so fuel costs will go down rather than up
Disadvantages of renewable energy
- Unreliable (except for hydro )
- Initially expensive, payback time
- Tidal and hydro destroy habitats
- Wind, noise pollution and eyesores
Carbon neutral
A biofuel from a living organism that takes in as much Co2 as it releases when it is burned
What are fossil fuels, examples, advantages, disadvantages
A fossil fuel is an energy resource that take millions of years to form and will eventually run out. e.g (crude oil, coal and natural gas.)
Advantages of them: include that they are affordable and have high energy density.
Disadvantages of them: they realise high amounts of CO2 when burned and they will eventually run out.
What are biofuels, examples, advatages, disadvantages
Biofuels are fuels taken from living or recently living organisms e.g methane from animal waste and ethanol.
Advantages of them: include that they are carbon neutral and renewable resources
Disadvantages of them: they are expensive to be produced into energy
How are fossil fuels formed
Fossil fuels are when millions of years ago animals and plants died and their body’s sank to the bottom of oceans and rivers.
Their remains where covered by many layers of sand clay and mud which became sedimentary rock.
As more rock covered them the pressure and temperature increased.
The remains where then heated which changed them into crude oil, coal and natural gas.
Large drills are often used to extract these resources.
What us wind power, how does it work, advantages, disadvantages
Wind power is power that comes from wind turbines. The force of the wind spins the turbines blades around which are connected to a generator, which then generates electricity from the kinetic energy of the spinning turbine blade.
Advantages of this: it uses renewable resources
Disadvantages of this: in oder to be deployed in the most effective places they often have to travel for miles and they are very expensive per machine
Disadvantages of renewable energy
- Unreliable (except for hydro )
- Initially expensive, payback time
- Tidal and hydro destroy habitats
- Wind, noise pollution and eyesores
What is a non renewable enrrgy source
Nonrenewable energy resources take millions of years to form and will eventually run out as there is a finite supply earth
What is solar power
Solar power is power that comes from solar panels. Solar panels have cold water pumped in then the heat from the sun reflecting of many mirrors heats it up as it leaves the solar panel. The hot water then enters a generator were it becomes electricity
Advantages of solar power
It is sustainable and renewable energy and they do not produce any noise.
Disadvantages of solar power
Solar panels are very expensive and it is dependent of clear weather
