P3 Energy Resources Flashcards
What is a biofuel?
Energy stored in things that were once alive.
Advantages of biofuel
- renewable
- carbon-neutral (so dosen’t add the the greenhouse effect)
- dosen’t require any specialised equipment
Disadvantages of biofuel
Large areas of land are required to grow enough trees or allow enough animals to graze
What is nuclear power?
Energy gained from nuclear fission (normally Uranium or Plutonium)
What is nuclear fission?
When the nucleus of an atom becomes unstable and spilts into two seperate atoms with a large release of energy.
Advanatges of nuclear power
- no greenhouse gases given off
- much more energy is transferred per kilogram compared to fossil fuels
Disadvantages of nuclear power
- used fuel rods contain radioactive waste (which needs to be safely disposed)
- possibility of accidental release of radioactive material
What are fossil fuels?
Coals, oils and natural gases which are formed from the remains of dead animals and plants.
Advantages of fossil fuels
- cheap to extract
- easily used to transfer to different energy stores
Disadvantages of fossil fuels
- non-renewable
- emitts greenhouses gases when burned
- finite in supply (eventually run out)
What is geothermal energy?
Using earth’s natural heat from it’s rocks to generate electricty
How geothermal energy collected?
1) cold water is pumped below the ground to the hot rocks beneath the surface.
2) the hot rocks heat the water, turning it into steam.
3) the steam returns to the surface of the Earth and is used to generate electricity.
Advantages of geothermal energy
- renewable
- no pollution
- dosen’t harm the enviroment
Disadvantages of geothermal energy
- very few places in the world that have these kind of rocks
- expensive
What is tidal energy?
Tides move turbines to generate electricity
Advantages of tidal energy
- renewable
- no pollutiom
- reliable (at least 2 tides per day)
- once built is is cheap to run
Disadvantages of tidal energy
- expensive to build
- can cause local flooding
- can affect the nearby habitat of creatures and plants
What is wind energy?
The conversion of kinetic energy in the wind to electrical energy.
Advantages of wind energy
- renewable
- no pollution
- cheap and easy to build
Disadvantages of wind energy
- noise pollution
- considered unsightly (unpleasant to look at)
- only works if its windy
What is solar energy?
Energy derived from the sun
Advantages of solar energy
- renewable
- low maintenance required
Disadvantages of solar energy
- visual pollution (unpleasant to look at)
- large area required
What are watts?
Joules per second
How many watts in a kilowatt
1 thousand
How many watts in a Megawatt?
1 million
How many watts in a Gigawatt?
1 billion
