Physics test 3/6/24 Flashcards
Name all renewable energy sources
solar, wind, water waves, hydro-electricity, bio-fuel, tides, geothermal
Positives of wind power
No pollution
No permanent damage to the landscape
Minimal running costs
What does wind power involve doing?
Putting lots of wind turbines up in exposed places like on moors or round coasts.
Each turbine has blades that turn the generator inside and produce electricity.
Negatives of wind power
Spoil the view
Very noisy
Turbines stop when winds stop or wind too stong
High initial costs
Describe how solar cells work
They generate electric currents directly from sunlight
Positives of solar cells
No pollution
Reliable in sunny countries
Running costs minimal
Negatives of solar cells
Only works in daytime
High initial costs
Describe how geothermal power works
Possible in volcanic areas or where hot rocks lie near the surface
The source of energy is the slow decay of various radioactive elements deep inside the earth
Positives of geothermal power
Free
Very little damage to enviroment
Negatives of geothermal power
Not very many suitable locations
Describe how hydroelectric power works
Flooding of valleys by building a big dam. Water is allowed out through turbines.
Positives of hydroelectric power
No pollution
Immediate energy
Minimal running costs
Negatives of hydroelectric power
Big impact on the environment
High initial costs
Describe how wave power works
Lots of wave-powered, moving turbines located around a coast are connected to a generator
Positives of wave power
No pollution
Minimal running costs
Negatives of wave power
Disturbs marine animals
Spoils view
Hazard to boats
High initial costs
Unreliable as when wind drops, waves tend to die out
Describe how tidal barrages work
Big dams built across river estuaries with turbines in. As the tide comes in, it fills up the estuary, and the water is allowed out through turbines at a controlled speed.
Positives of tidal barrages
No pollution
Minimal running costs
Negatives of tidal barrages
Prevents free access by boats
Spoils view
Alters habitats of creatures who live in sand
High initial costs
Describe how bio-fuels work and what they are used for.
Created from either plant products or animal dung. They can be solid, liquid or gas and they are burnt to produce electricity to run cars in the same way as fossil fuels.
Positives of bio-fuels
Crops take a short time to grow
Negatives of bio-fuels
Not immediate
Takes up space for other crops that are grown for food
Increases CO2 and methane emissions
What are the different types of non-renewable energy?
Fossil fuels and nuclear energy
Positives of non-renewable energy
Cost-effective
Quick response for change in demand
Negatives of non-renewable energy
Slowly running out
Coal, oil and gas release CO2 into the atmosphere which adds to the greenhouse effect and contributes to global warming
