P3- energy resources ⛽️🔥🌊

Question 1

What are some examples of uses of energy? [3]

Answer 1

• Fossil fuels
• generating electricity
• heating

Question 2

What are the three main fossil fuels?

Answer 2

• coal
• oil
• gas

Question 3

What are some advantages of fossil fuels? [2] ✅

Hint: always provide

Answer 3

• fossil fuels are reliable, as they always provide energy when we need it.
• fossil fuels release a great deal of energy

Question 4

What are some disadvantages of fossil fuels? ❌ [2]

Hint: releases, climate change

Answer 4

• burning fossil fuels releases a huge amount of carbon dioxide, which can contribute to climate change.
• fossil fuels are non-renewable- [they’re not being replenished at the rate we use them.]

Question 5

What is a feature about nuclear power? ☢️

Hint: uranium

Answer 5

• nuclear power is non-renewable because, nuclear power plants run on the elements uranium and plutonium [which are a finite resource]

Question 6

What are the advantages of generating electricity, via nuclear power ? ✅

Hint: no carbon dioxide

Answer 6

• once a nuclear power plant is running, it releases no carbon dioxide- therefore nuclear power doesn’t contribute to climate change.
• nuclear power is extremely reliable- since it generates a lot of electricity, exactly when we want it.

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of generating electricity, via nuclear power ? ❌ [2]

Hint: contain radioactive materials

Answer 7

• nuclear power plants contain highly dangerous radioactive materials.
• If there’s an accident, then these materials could be released into the environment.
• decommissioning a nuclear power plant, takes many years and is extremely expensive.

Question 8

• Fill in the gaps: The UK has abundant reserves of ____. Up until the 1950s, almost all of the electricity generated in the UK came from burning ____.
• ____ and ____ gas, we’re also used for heating and cooking in the UK

Answer 8

• The UK has abundant reserves of coal. Up until the 1950s, almost all of the electricity generated in the UK came from burning coal.
• Coal and natural gas, were also used for heating and cooking in the UK

Question 9

Fill in the gaps: In the 1950s, ______ power came online and by the 1980s, this produced __% of all the UK’s electricity.

Answer 9

• In the 1950s, nuclear power came online and by the 1980s, this produced 20% of all the UK’s electricity.

Question 10

• Fill in the gaps: In the 1970s, the UK became a major producer of ___ and ___, from the North Sea and this began to replace ____ for electricity generation.
• Since by the 2000s, as much electricity was generated from burning ___, as from burning ____.

Answer 10

• Fill in the gaps: In the 1970s, the UK became a major producer of oil and gas, from the North Sea and this began to replace coal for electricity generation.
• Since by the 2000s, as much electricity was generated from burning gas, as from burning coal.

Question 11

Why did the switch from burning coal, to burning gas happen? [2]

Hint: climate change

Hint: start up time

Answer 11

• Burning gas generates less carbon dioxide, than burning coal. This contributes to climate change.
• Gas-fired power stations are flexible. They can be switched on quickly during periods of high demand [short start-up time]; coal- fired power stations have a very long, start-up time.

Question 12

Why did the switch to renewable power happen ?

Hint: politicians began

Hint #2: scientists realised

Answer 12

• In the 1970s, scientists began to realise that carbon dioxide emissions from human activity could be leading to climate change, and at the time, politicians didn’t really see that as a big issue.
• energy from fossil fuels was also very cheap- [this is an economic factor]- switching away from fossil fuels, costs money which could cost people their jobs?
• But gradually, politicians began to take climate change seriously, and in 2005, the Kyoto protocol committed countries to reducing their greenhouse emissions. [a large number of countries committed themselves to this]

Question 13

What is the future of UK energy?

Hint: ☢️🚨

Answer 13

• we need a base load [a constant supply of electricity that’s on all the time] and nuclear power is ideal for this.
• we can gas-fired power stations, to provide emergency power in times of peak demand.

Question 14

What is a renewable energy resource?

Answer 14

• A renewable energy resource, is a resource that is being [or can be] replenished, as it is used.

Question 15

What are some types of renewable energy resources ?

Answer 15

• wind power
• solar power
• hydroelectric power
• tidal power
• biofuels
• geothermal
• wave power

Question 16

What are the main advantages of all renewable energy resources ?

Hint: don’t contribute

Answer 16

• renewable energy resources will never run out
• once in place, renewable energy resources don’t add any carbon dioxide to the atmosphere- meaning they don’t contribute to climate change.

Question 17

What are the main disadvantages of all renewable energy resources ?

Answer 17

• wind and solar power aren’t reliable. This is because some days are simply not windy and solar power, doesn’t work well on cloudy days.
• hydroelectric power is very reliable; habitats are destroyed when dams are built and valleys are flooded. Also, hydroelectricity is only useful, in countries which have lots of rivers and is therefore not really suitable in the UK.

Question 18

What can you tell me about tidal power ?

Hint: reliable

Answer 18

• tidal power is extremely reliable; at the moment, the UK doesn’t generate any electricity from tidal power.
• [There are proposals to build a tidal barrage across the Severn bridge; some people argues it would be harmful to wildlife]

Question 19

What can you tell me about wave power?

Hint: expiremental

Answer 19

• wave power is reliable, and has a huge potential in the UK because, the UK has a extensive coastline
• ; wave power is very small and experimental at this stage. [in time]

Question 20

What can you tell me about geothermal energy?

Answer 20

• geothermal energy is reliable; it’s not really used much in the UK.

Question 21

What is most of the energy in the UK used for ?

Hint: petrol or diesel

Answer 21

• most of energy used in the UK, is for transport [which includes cars]. This is because, all cars in the UK run on petrol or diesel, which are fossil fuels.
• ; uses of energy resources also include: electricity generation and heating

Question 22

How are biofuels produced ?

Answer 22

• Biofuels are produced from plant material
• and burning biofuels- doesn’t add any extra carbon dioxide to the atmosphere [carbon neutral]

Question 23

What are some other advantages, of fossil fuels ? [2]

Hint: versatile

Answer 23

• fossil fuels are abundant and relatively cheap
• ; fossil fuels are extremely versatile

Question 24

What’s one other disadvantage, of fossil fuels ?

Hint: harmful

Answer 24

• burning fossil fuels can release other pollutants, which can be harmful to human health.
• For example, burning diesel, releases carbon particles and nitrogen oxides, and burning coal releases sulfur [which can affect the respiratory system]

Question 25

What’s another disadvantage, of nuclear power ?

Hint: radioactive

Answer 25

• a nuclear power plant generates large amounts of highly dangerous radioactive waste.
• This then must be stored for thousands of years, before it’s safe.

Question 26

Why do biofuels have the potential to be useful ?

Hint: grow crops

Answer 26

• biofuels are potentially very useful because, we can use them to power vehicles, such as cars and buses.
• ; if we use land to grow crops for biofuels, this could increase up the price of food.