Power Stations

Question 1

Which power stations are non-renewable?

Answer 1

• Coal
• Oil
• Gas
• Nuclear

Question 2

Why are fossil fuel power stations bad for the environment?

Answer 2

• Burning fossil fuels generates carbon dioxide (CO₂) - this contributes to global warming as it is a greenhouse gas
• Coal (particularly) emits sulphur dioxide (SO₂) which causes acid rain

Question 3

Which 2 fuels are are used in nuclear fission power stations?

Answer 3

Uranium and plutonium

Question 4

What is a biofuel?

Answer 4

Any fuel that comes from a biological source eg.:

• burning wood to heat water
• burning biogas to heat water or generate elecricity

Question 5

Which 2 renewable sources can be used to drive turbines directly?

Answer 5

Wind and water

Water can be in the form of:

• waves
• tidal
• hydroelectric

Question 6

How can solar energy be used?

Answer 6

• to heat water directly
• to generate electricty using solar cells

Question 7

What is geothermal energy?

Answer 7

In some volcanic areas hot water and steam rise to
the surface. The steam can be tapped and used to
drive turbines. This is known as geothermal energy.

Question 8

What are the advanatges and disadvantages of coal-fired power stations?

Answer 8

​Advantages

• reliable energy source
• cheap to run

Disadvantages

• CO₂ produced which adds to global warming
• SO₂ produced which adds to acid rain

Question 9

What are the advantages and disadvantges of oil power stations?

Answer 9

​Advantages

• reliable energy source
• cheap to run

Disadvantages

• CO₂ produced which adds to global warming

Question 10

What are the advantages and disadvantages of gas-fired power stations?

Answer 10

​Advantages

• reliable energy source
• cheap to run

Disadvantages

• CO₂ produced which adds to global warming

Question 11

What are the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power stations?

Answer 11

Advantages

• Highest energy per kg of fuel

Disadvantages

• Slow start-up time
• Dangers of a large scale accident affecting many people
• Radioactive waste is highly toxic and difficult to dispose of

Question 12

What are the disadvantages of wave power?

Answer 12

Advantages

• Renewable energy source
• Free (once built)

Disadvantages

• Spoils the scenary (visual pollution)
• Noise pollution
• An unreliable source of energy

Question 13

What are the advantages and disadvantages of tidal power?

Answer 13

Advantages

• renewable source of energy

Disadvantages

• Spoils the scenary (visual pollution)
• Destroys wildlife habitats
• An reliable source of energy

Question 14

What are the advantages and disadvantages of geothermal power?

Answer 14

Advantages

• Renewable source of energy

Disadvantages

• Can only be used in volcanic parts of the world (Iceland & New Zealand)

Question 15

What are the advantages and disadvantages of hydroelectric power?

Answer 15

Advantages

• Fast start up time
• Renewable

Disadvantages

• Natural habitats need to be flooded to construct the dam
• Visual pollution

Question 16

What are the advantages and disadvantages of biofuels?

Answer 16

Advantages

• Biofuels are sustainable
• Some are “carbon neutral”

Disadavantages

• CO₂ produced when burning wood which adds to global warming

Question 17

What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power?

Answer 17

Advantages

• Renewable source of energy
• Free (once built)

Disadvantages

• Expensive to produce solar cells
• Can be unreliable in less sunny regions