Renewable Energy, planned obsolenence and metals Flashcards
What are the advantages of using coal?
- There is enough coal on earth to last hundreds of years
- Produces high amounts of energy
What are te disadvantages of coal?
- Produces carbon dioxide
- Damage to natural land where mining takes place
What are the advantages of natural gas?
- emits less carbon dioxide than coal or oil
- the UK has shale gas deposites
What are the disadvantages of natural gas?
- gas is highly flamable
- extracting gas might cause the pollution of water
What is fracking?
A process of forcing liquid and sand into shale rock to force oil or gas out
What are the advantages of oil?
- small amount of oil produces a lot of energy
- easy to store and transport
What are the disadvantages of oil
- creates significant air pollution when burned
- considerable impact on water, land use and disposal
What are the advantages of nuclear power?
- no harmful gases are released
- more efficiant than fossil fuels
What are the disadvantages of nuclear power?
- power stations have to close after around 40 years of use
- disposal of waste is difficult and costly
- cost of nuclear power stations is very high
What are the advantages of wind turbines?
- wind is constantly available
- low running costs
What are the disadvantages of wind turbines?
- will noot work as effectivly if there is little to no wind
- initial set up cost is high
- some people do not like the look of them
What are the advantages of solar pannels?
- clean, renewable energy
- reduces household energy bills
What are the disadvantages of solar pannels?
- Some people do not like the look of them
- Initial set up cost is high
- At night or during winter they will not produce electricity
What are the advantages of tidal power?
- clean, renewable energy
- power plants last for a long time
- could produce 1/5 of the UK’s needs
What are the disadvantages of tidal power?
- initial set up cost are high
- could have an environmental impact
What are the advantages of hydroelectric power?
- clean, renewable energy
- valves can be opened quickly to produce more energy at peak times
- no pollution when running
What are the disadvantages of hydroelectric power?
- initial set up cost is high
- takes up a lot of space
- affects wildlife habitats because of the flooding
What are the advantages of biomass?
- clean, renewable enrgy source
- carbon dioxide is released but it can be reused by plants
- replacement plants can be grown quickly
What are the disadvantages of biomass?
- does create pollution when burnt (produces CO2)
- need large amount of land to grow plants
What is planned obsolescence?
It is when a designer deliberately gives a product a short life span.
What are the advantages of planned obsolescence?
Companies are able to convice there customers to buy the new and improved versions.
What are the disadvanteges of planned obsolescence?
It creates more waste so is bad for the environment.
What is a metal alloy?
It is made by combining different metals which makes it more useful for a specific task
How do you calculate the cost of metals?
Cost = cost per tonne x weight required
