P3 Energy resources Flashcards
What does non-renewable resource mean
that the energy resource will run out one day
What does renewable resource mean
that the energy resource will never run out
What are fossil fuels
natural resources that form underground over millions of years
what are the three main fossil fuels
coal
oil
natural gas
what can you assume about a resource if it is non-renewable
- it will all ‘run out’ one day
- it damages the environment
- it is reliable
what can you assume about a resource if it is renewable
- it will never run out
- it will not damage the environment excessively
- it is unreliable
what are the non-renewable resources
- nuclear fuel
- coal
- oil
- natural gas
what are the renewable resources
- solar
- wind
- hydroelectricity
- biofuel
- tidal
- geothermal
how can non-renewable energy resources be used for transport
- petrol and diesel powered vehicles ~ oil
- coal in steam trains ~ coal
how can renewable energy resources be used for transport
- vehicles ~ biofuel
how can non-renewable energy resources be used for heating
- heating homes ~ natural gas
- fireplaces ~ coal
how can renewable energy resources be used for heating
- heat buildings ~ geothermal & solar
what is the national grid
a giant web of wires that covers the whole of Britain, distributing electricity from power stations to homes everywhere
Why do we not use renewable resources more than non-renewable if they don’t harm the environment as much
because they don’t generate as much energy
how does coal, oil and natural gas generate electricity
- either coal, oil or natural gas is burnt
- steam is produced
- steam rotates turbine, connected to the generated
- generator rotates producing electricity
what are the advantages of coal
- cheap
- good transport links
- built anywhere
what are the advantages of oil
- easy to transport
- built anywhere
- produces large amounts of electricity
what are the advantages of natural gas
- easy to transport
- produces large amounts of electricity
- built anywhere
what are the disadvantages of coal
- produces CO2
- produces sulphur dioxide
- non-renewable