P3 - Energy resources

Question 1

Biofuel

Answer 1

Any fuel taken from living or recently living materials, such as animal waste.

Question 2

carbon-neutral

Answer 2

A biofuel from a living organism that takes in as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as is released when the fuel is burned.

Question 3

geothermal energy

Answer 3

Energy released by radioactive substances deep within the Earth.

Question 4

national grid

Answer 4

The network of cables and transformers used to transfer electricity from power stations to consumers, such as households, offices, factories, and shops.

Question 5

Nuclear fuel

Answer 5

Substances used in nuclear reactor that release energy due to nuclear fission.

Question 6

Nucleus of an atom

Answer 6

Tiny positively-charged object composed of protons and neutrons at the centre of every atom.

Question 7

Reactor core

Answer 7

The thick steel vessel used to contain fuel rods, control rods, and the moderator in a nuclear fission reactor.

Question 8

Renewable energy

Answer 8

Energy from natural sources that is always being replenished, so it never runs out.

Question 9

What type of fuel are biofuels?

Answer 9

Renewable.

Biofuels such as methane and ethanol can be used to generate electricity.

Question 10

Process of using Nuclear power

Answer 10

1. The uranium (or plutonium) fuel is sealed in cans in the core of the reactor: the nucleus of these elements’ atoms are unstable and can split in two.
2. As a result, more energy is released per kilogram than fossil fuels.
3. The energy of the core is transferred by a coolant fluid that is pumped through the core.
4. Because the coolant is very hot when it leaves the core, it flows through a pipe to a heat exchanger, then back to the reactor core.
5. The coolant’s transferred energy turns water into steam in the heat exchanger. The steam drives turbines that turn electricity generators.
6. To moderate the reactions, in the nuclear reactors, there are a blend of Boron control rods and water.

Question 11

Nuclear fission

Answer 11

The splitting of a large atomic nucleus in smaller nuclei usually by introducing a neutron to it.