P8.2.1 - Energy sources/ P8.2.2 - Using resources Flashcards
What are the 3 fossil fuels?
Coal, oil and gas
How are fossil fuels formed?
They are formed from the remains of once living animals and/or plants
What do we use fossil fuels for?
We use them for generating electrical energy/electricity
What is a renewable source?
An energy source that will not run out (in the next million years or so)
What is a non-renewable source?
An energy source that will run out (in the next millions of years or so)
What are some examples of renewable energy sources?
- biofuels
- the Sun
- tides
- wind
- waves
- hot rocks beneath the ground (geothermal)
- water high up (e.g. behind dams)(hydroelectric)
What are biofuels?
A fuel produced from biological matter for example plants or waste
What are nuclear fuels?
Fuels that heat water by energy transfer from fission (e.g. uranium)
What can you use to generate electricity?
- Solar cells also known as solar panels
- Turbines and generators that are driven by the wind, water, falling water, steam from hot rocks, or burning biofuels
How can you heat your house effectively?
- build houses that maximise the heating by the Sun
- heat your house with hot water beneath the ground
- heat water using a solar water heating system that contain water in pipes on your roof, called a solar panel
What energy sources can we use for heating?
- fossil fuels
- biofuels
- the Sun
- water pumped into hot rock
What energy sources can we use for transportation?
- Fossil fuels
- Biofuels
What energy sources can we use for generating electricity?
- fossil fuel
- biofuels
- nuclear fuel
- solar power
- tidal power
- wind power
- wave power
- geothermal power
- hydroelectric power
How do (fossil fuel) power plants work?
- Burn fossil fuel
- Heat water to make
- Steam turns turbine
- Turbine turns generator
- Electricity
What are the advantages of (fossil fuel) power plants?
- They are a reliable source of energy
- Cost effective/safe
What are the disadvantages of (fossil fuel) power plants?
- Greenhouse gases
- Non-renewable
What is the greenhouse effect?
The process by which the Earth’s atmosphere traps the Sun’s heat
What is a nuclear fission reaction?
Atoms split apart, releasing energy
What are the advantages of nuclear power plants?
- Lots of energy per kg than fossil fuels
- no greenhouse gases
What are the disadvantages of nuclear power plants?
- radioactive waste is difficult to dispose
- potentially very dangerous
- non-renewable
How are biofuels carbon neutral?
The CO2 released in burning biofuels is reabsorbed when a new crop of plants is grown
Compare renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
- Renewable energy sources can be used to generate energy over again, without running out
- Non-renewable energy sources will eventually run out
- Renewable energy sources don’t generate greenhouse gases nor culver radiation
- So renewable energy sources don’t give rise to environmental problems such as global warming
- Unlike non renewable sources of energy, renewable sources of energy are unreliable
Why is coal non renewable but wood renewable?
- Coals takes millions of years to form, but wood forms in just years
- Therefore coal will run out in our life time at the rate we are using it but wood will be available to use in our lifetime
Explain why there are 2 types of ‘solar panel’.
Because there are 2 different energy transfers involved…
Solar Panels
LIGHT ENERGY -> HEAT ENERGY
Solar Cells (photovoltaic cells) LIGHT ENERGY -> ELECTRICAL ENERGY
