P.3 Flashcards
What is are fossil fuels, what are some examples, what are some advantages and disadvantages of them
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, what are some examples, what are some advantages and disadvantages of them
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
What are renewable resources
Renewable resources are resources that are used at the same rate they are replaced
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 is wind power, how dose it work, what are some advantages and disadvantages of it
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 energy source
Nonrenewable energy resources take millions of years to form and will eventually run out as there is a finite supply earth
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 a non- renewable energy source
Non renewable energy resources take millions of years to form and will eventually run out as there is a finite supply on Earth
What is meant by a fuel
Fuel is something that releases energy when burned via combustion or nuclear fission
How do you access energy from fuels
Energy stores accessed though combustion ( burning in the presence of oxygen ) or through nuclear fission in nuclear reactors
How does hydroelectric power work
- Water is held behind a dam storing gravitational potential energy
- Water burns through pipes ( gravitational potential to kinetic energy )
- Turbine connected to generator, producing electricity
Advantages of hydroelectric power
- Reliable constant rate of electric generation
- No pollution
- Water can be saved for use of an electricity demand is high
- Dams are designed to last for many decades
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
How does tidal power work
Water from the high tide is trapped between a barrage and then is released through turbines, turning them which turns the generator to generate electricity
How does wave power work
The wave generator uses 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
Disadvantages of wave and tidal power
- Cost of set up is high
- Generation is from short period at tide peaks
- Only works at ideal locations along the coast lines
- Can disrupt sea life
