P3 - Energy Resources Flashcards
What is biofuel?
any fuel taken from living or recently living materials, such as animal waste
What is geothermal energy?
energy released by radioactive substances deep within the Earth
What is the national grid?
the network of cables and transformers used to transfer electricity from power stations to consumers (i.e., homes, shops, offices, factories etc.)
What is nuclear fuel?
substance used in nuclear reactors that releases energy due to nuclear fission
What is a nucleus?
tiny positively charged object composed of protons and neutrons at the centre of every atom
What is a reactor core?
the thick steel vessel used to contain fuel rods, control rods and the moderator in a nuclear fission reactor
What is renewable energy?
energy from natural sources that is always being replenished so it never runs out
What is renewable energy?
energy from natural sources that is always being replenished so it never runs out
What are some positive features of biofuels?
They are renewable and carbon neutral
Give some examples of Biofuels
Methane, Ethanol, Rapeseed plants and Waste vegetable oil
What elements are used as nuclear fuel?
Plutonium and Uranium
How does nuclear fuel release energy?
the nucleus of the atom is unstable and can split in 2, this process releases energy. There are many nuclei in the reactor core so lots of energy is released
What are some positives of nuclear energy?
it does not emit greenhouse gases
it produces 10,000 X the amount of energy per kg than fossil fuels (300,000MJ of energy per kg)
What are some negatives of nuclear energy?
it produces nuclear waste which needs to be stored for many years.
An accident in a nuclear power plant can make the surrounding area unusable for many years.
How is energy generated in a power station?
Water is heated to produce steam. The steam drives a turbine, which is coupled to an electrical generator that generates electricity
How is energy generated from wind power?
The force of the wind drives the blades of the turbine, this turns a generator. The power generated increases as wind speed increases.
What are some positives of Wind Power?
It is carbon neutral, It is renewable
What are some negatives of Wind Power?
It is unreliable as wind speed can fluctuate
They can make lots of noise
How does wave power generate electricity?
Waves make a floating generator move up and down, this motion turns a generator and generates electricity. This electricity is delivered to the shoreline via a cable.
What are some positives of Wave Power?
They are carbon neutral, they are renewable
What are some negatives of Wave Power?
They are an unreliable source of energy, they need lots of cables and buildings along the coast to connect to the electricity grid.
They can affect habitats
How does hydroelectric power generate electricity?
Rainwater is collected in a reservoir at the top of a hill. When the water then flows back downhill it turns a turbine that then turns a generator, generating electricity.
How does tidal power generate energy?
Water is trapped behind a barrage at high tide. The water is released back into the ocean through turbines. The turbines drive a generator which then generates electricity.
What is a wind turbine?
An electricity generator at the top of a narrow tower, who’s turbine blades are turned by the wind.
How is energy transferred from the sun to the earth?
As solar radiation
What are positives of solar cells/panels?
They cost nothing to run, They are carbon neutral, They are renewable
What are some negatives of solar cells/panels?
They cost a lot to buy, they are unreliable, only 10% of the energy they receive is converted into electricity
How do solar heating cells heat water?
Energy from the sun heats water that flows directly through the panels
What % of the energy solar cells absorb is converted into electricity
10%
How does geothermal energy generate electricity?
Energy is released from radioactive substances deep within the earth. This energy heats the surrounding rocks. Deep holes are drilled and cold water is pumped down onto these hot rocks. The water is heated and returns to the surface as steam. This steam is then used to turn turbines.
In how many years will gas and oil run out?
50
What are some negatives of fossil fuels
They release greenhouse gases
They are not renewable.
What fossil fuels release sulphur dioxide?
Coal and Oil
What does sulphur dioxide cause?
Acid rain
Is electricity demand higher in summer or winter?
winter
What is the base load demand?
The constant amount of energy provided by coal and nuclear power stations
What energy resources are used to meet variations in energy demand?
gas and hydroelectric storage stations
Nuclear stations are expensive to ……………………….
build, run and decommission
nuclear power stations are …… to start up
slow
