P3 Energy Resources

Question 1

What is a non-renewable energy resource?

Answer 1

will eventually run out, is not replaced at the same rate it is being used

Question 2

What is a renewable energy resource?

Answer 2

will not run out, it is being (or can be) replaced at the same rate as which it is used

Question 3

What are the main renewable and non-renewable resources available on Earth?

Answer 3

renewable: solar, tidal, wave, wind, geothermal, biofuel, hydroelectric
non-renewable: coal, oil, gas, nuclear

Question 4

What are the main advantages of using coal as an energy resource?

Answer 4

enough available to meet current demand, reliable, can control supply to match demand, cheap to extract and use

Question 5

What are the main disadvantages of using coal as an energy resource?

Answer 5

will eventually run out, releases CO, which contributes to climate change, releases sulfur dioxide which causes
acid rain

Question 6

What are the main advantages of using nuclear fuel as an energy resource?

Answer 6

lot of energy released from a small mass, reliable, can control supply to match demand, enough fuel available to meet current demand, no polluting gases

Question 7

What are the main disadvantages of using nuclear fuel as an energy resource?

Answer 7

waste is dangerous and difficult and expensive to deal with, expensive initial set up, expensive to shut down and to run

Question 8

What are the main advantages of using solar energy?

Answer 8

can be used in remote places, no polluting gases, no waste products, very low running cost

Question 9

What are the main disadvantages of using solar energy?

Answer 9

unreliable, cannot control supply, initial set up expensive, cannot be used on a large scale

Question 10

What are the main advantages of using tidal power?

Answer 10

no polluting gases, no waste products, reliable, can produce large amounts of electricity, low running cost, no fuel costs

Question 11

What are the main disadvantages of using tidal power?

Answer 11

can harm marine habitats, initial set up expensive, cannot increase supply when needed, amount of energy varies on time of month, hazard for boats

Question 12

What are the main advantages of using wave turbines?

Answer 12

no polluting gases produced, no waste products, low running cost, no fuel costs

Question 13

What are the main disadvantages of using wave turbines?

Answer 13

unreliable, dependent on weather, cannot control supply, initial set up expensive, can harm marine habitats, hazard for boats, cannot be used on a large scale

Question 14

What are the main disadvantages of using wind turbines?

Answer 14

unreliable, dependent on weather, cannot control supply, take up lot of space, can produce noise pollution

Question 15

What are the advantages and the disadvantages of using geothermal energy?

Answer 15

advantages: no polluting gases, low running cost disadvantages: initial set up expensive, available in few locations

Question 16

What are the main advantages and disadvantages of using biofuels?

Answer 16

advantages: can be ‘carbon neutral’ reliable disadvantages: expensive to produce, use land/water that might be needed to grow food

Question 17

What are the main advantages and disadvantages of using hydroelectric power?

Answer 17

advantages: no polluting gases, no waste products, low running cost, no fuel cost, reliable, can be controlled to meet demand disadvantages: initial set up expensive, dams can harm/
destroy marine habitats