part 4

Question 1

The 4 steps of an energy generator house.

Answer 1

1. Water heated to produce high pressure steam
2. Steam is cooled (cooling tower) and condensed into water
3. steam pushes around a turbine, which is like a giant fan
4. Turbine attached to generator, makes generator spin. Generator turns kinetic energy into electrical energy

Question 2

What other ways can we generate electricity?

Answer 2

Wind turbines
hydroelectric turbines
wave and tidal turbines

Question 3

What effects do fossil fuels have on the environment?

Answer 3

When fossil fuels (like oil and coal) are burned they produce carbon emissions into the atmosphere, in particular co2. This contributes to greenhouse gases which in turn leads to climate change / global warming. They are also non-renewable.

Question 4

what are the use of transformers?

Answer 4

The transformers take a high current, to a low current, back to a high current. (they change the voltage). A high current is a low voltage and a low current is a high voltage. There are step up transformers and step down transformers, you will have a step down transformer near your home.

Question 5

what is the national grid?

Answer 5

The national grid is how you get the electricity from a power station to your homes. The electricity goes through the cables and wires of the national grid, as the electricity flows through, some is lost as heat energy, meaning the national grid transmits energy at low currents.

Question 6

what parts are in the national grid?

Answer 6

The power station, Step up transformers, the national grid, step down transformer and into your home at 230v

Question 7

At what voltage is electricity supplied to your homes?

Answer 7

230v

Question 8

what energy resources are there?

Answer 8

Fossil fuels e.g coal and oil
Nuclear fuel
renewable resources e.g solar energy, wind power, wave and tidal power, hydro-power and geothermal power.

Question 9

What effects do Nuclear fuels have on our environment?

Answer 9

This non-renewable energy source produces large amounts of radioactive material, which could be released into the atmosphere. It remains radioactive for thousands of years, It must be stored properly.

Question 10

What effects do renewable energy resources have?

Answer 10

Renewable energy resources are a lot cleaner than fossil fuels and nuclear fuels, however they still harness a degree of environmental impacts for example wind turbines can be a threat and a disturbance to wildlife.