Renewable Energy and Fossil Fuels

Question 1

Name three fossil fuels.

Answer 1

Coal, oil and natural gas.

Question 2

Are fossil fuels renewable or non-renewable?

Answer 2

Non-renewable.

Question 3

When were fossil fuels formed?

Answer 3

They were formed on the remains of living organisms millions of years ago. They also release energy when they’re burned.

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of fossil fuels?

Answer 4

Because they are non-renewable, their supply is limited and will eventually run out.
Coal and oil release sulfur dioxide gas when they burn, which causes breathing problems for living creatures and contributes to acid rain.
Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide.

Question 5

What is carbon capture?

Answer 5

It is a way to prevent carbon dioxide building up in the atmosphere.

Question 6

What are the main nuclear fuels?

Answer 6

Uranium and Plutonium. These are radioactive metals.

Question 7

Why are nuclear fuels burnt?

Answer 7

They are not burnt to release energy, instead nuclear fission reactions in the fuels release heat energy.

Question 8

What are the advantages and disadvantages of burning nuclear fuels?

Answer 8

Nuclear fuels do not produce carbon dioxide or sulfur dioxide.
They are non-renewable resources.
It is hazardous to health because it is radioactive.

Question 9

What is wind produced as a result of?

Answer 9

Convection currents in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Question 10

Is wind a renewable or non-renewable resource?

Answer 10

Renewable.

Question 11

What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind energy?

Answer 11

Wind energy is renewable.

Wind farms are noisy and may spoil the view for people living near them. If there is no wind, there is no electricity.

Question 12

What type of energy do wave machines use?

Answer 12

Kinetic energy is used to generate electricity.

Question 13

What is a tidal barrage?

Answer 13

A barrier built over a river estuary to make use of the kinetic energy in the moving water.

Question 14

What does water high up behind the barrage contain?

Answer 14

Gravitational Potential energy.

Question 15

What are the advantages and disadvantages of water energy?

Answer 15

Water, in it’s various forms, is a renewable resource and there are no fuel costs. Tidal barrages and hydroelectric power stations are very reliable and can be easily switched on.
Tidal barrages destroy the habitat of estuary species, including wading birds.
Hydroelectricity dams flood farmland.
The rotting vegetations underwater releases methane, which is a greenhouse gas.

Question 16

What is geothermal energy?

Answer 16

When hot water and steam from underground is used to drive turbines.

Question 17

Why is Geothermal energy most produced in volcanic areas?

Answer 17

Because the rocks may heat the water so that it rises to the surface naturally as hot water and steam.

Question 18

Where are some Geothermal power stations set?

Answer 18

Iceland, California and Italy.

Question 19

What happens if there is a location with hot rocks but not hot water or steam rises to the surface?

Answer 19

Deep wells can be drilled down to the hot rocks and cold water pumped down. The water runs through the fractures in the rocks and is heated up. It returns to the surface as hot water and steam, where it’s energy can be used to drive turbines and electricity generators.

Question 20

What are the advantages and disadvantages or geothermal energy?

Answer 20

It is a renewable energy resource and there are no fuel costs. No harmful, polluting gases are produced.
Most parts of the world do not have suitable areas where geothermal energy can be exploited.

Question 21

What are solar cells?

Answer 21

Devices that convert light energy directly into electrical energy.

Question 22

How can solar cells get confused with solar panels?

Answer 22

Solar panels use energy from the sun to heat up water.

Question 23

What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar cells?

Answer 23

Solar energy is a renewable energy source and there are no fuel costs. No harmful, polluting gases are produced. Solar cells provide electricity to remote locations, such as road signs.
Solar cells are expensive and insufficient, so the cost of their electricity is high. Solar cells do not work at night.

Question 24

Power stations fuelled by fossil fuels and nuclear fuels are reliable sources of energy, what does this mean?

Answer 24

They can provide power whenever needed.

Question 25

What is the difference between nuclear power stations and gas-fired power stations?

Answer 25

Nuclear power stations run all the time because they take such a long time to start up.
Gas-fired power stations are used to provide extra electricity at peak times because they take the least time to start up.

Question 26

What is a transformer?

Answer 26

An electrical device that changes the voltage of an alternating current supply, such as the mains electrical supply.

Question 27

What is a step-down transformer?

Answer 27

A transformer that decreases voltage.

Question 28

What is a step-up transformer?

Answer 28

A transformer that increases voltage.