P3: Energy Resources

Question 1

What are energy resources used for?

Answer 1

Transport, electricity, generation and heating

Question 2

What can the heat from the burning of fossil fuels be used for?

Answer 2

Cooking, powering engines and generate electricity

Question 3

What are advantages of fossil fuels?

Answer 3

Relatively cheap, most of our infrastructure is used from it and can be used in any condition

Question 4

What are disadvantages of fossil fuels?

Answer 4

There is a limited supply, they produce carbon dioxide when burned and sometimes produce toxins, e.g. sulfur dioxide

Question 5

What are advantages of nuclear energy?

Answer 5

They do not produce any pollutants, can be used in any condition and they are unlikely to run out for a long time

Question 6

What are disadvantages of nuclear energy?

Answer 6

Technically finite due to uranium fuel, produce radioactive waste, could release large amounts of radioactive material to the environment and is quite expensive

Question 7

What are advantages of solar and wind energy?

Answer 7

They are getting cheaper every year and they don’t damage the environment

Question 8

What are disadvantages of solar and wind energy?

Answer 8

They take up lots of space, don’t look nice and unreliable

Question 9

What are advantages of geothermal energy?

Answer 9

Does not produce pollutants while running, renewable and reliable over long periods of time

Question 10

What are disadvantages of geothermal energy?

Answer 10

Can only be used in certain areas and power plants can be expensive to build

Question 11

What is a biofuel?

Answer 11

A fuel that is made from recently living organisms

Question 12

What are advantages of biofuels?

Answer 12

Cheap to make, renewable and easy to transport

Question 13

What are disadvantages of biofuels?

Answer 13

Need somewhere to grow the plants, meaning that trees may need to be cut down, harvesting of plants require energy

Question 14

Biofuels should be carbon neutral, but in reality they are not. Why?

Answer 14

In order to grow them, trees need to be cut down, meaning carbon dioxide is released. They can no longer photosynthesise and absorb the carbon dioxide. Additionally, it requires a lot of energy to harvest plants, which means carbon dioxide is also released

Question 15

What are advantages of hydroelectric and tidal energy?

Answer 15

No pollution, reliable resources and running costs are fairly low

Question 16

What are disadvantages of hydroelectric and tidal energy?

Answer 16

Often have a big impact on the surrounding environment, e.g. hydroelectric causes floods, initial set up is expensive and can prevent fish migration