Topic 1 - Energy - 1.3 National and Global Energy Resources

Question 1

What is a renewable energy resource?

Answer 1

An energy source which can be
replenished as it is being used up.

Question 2

Give four examples of renewable energy
resources.

Answer 2

1.Wind Energy
2. Hydro-Electricity
3. Tidal Energy
4. Solar Energy

Question 3

Give an example of a non-renewable
energy resource.

Answer 3

Fossil fuels (for example coal, oil and
gas).

Question 4

What are the advantages of generating
power using gas rather than coal?

Answer 4

●Flexible Generation: Gas power
stations have short start-up times so
can be switched on/off more readily
●Lower emissions of carbon dioxide

Question 5

State two disadvantages of using
renewable energy resources to generate
power.

Answer 5

●Output often determined by external factors
(like wind speed), so supply is uncertain
●Generating power through other means is
often more efficient and economically
beneficial

Question 6

Explain the environmental impacts of
burning fossil fuels.

Answer 6

●Carbon Dioxide contributes to the
greenhouse effect, and causes global
warming
●Sulphur Dioxide leads to acid rain, which
can damage buildings and crops

Question 7

State three advantages of fossil fuels as
an energy resource.

Answer 7

1. Reliable: Not dependent on external factors
   so can generate power anytime
2. Can produce large amounts of energy for a
   given quantity
3. Still relatively abundant, so cost-effective

Question 8

State three advantages of nuclear
power.

Answer 8

1. Very large amounts of energy for relatively
   small quantities of fuel
2. Doesn’t release greenhouse gases and so
   doesn’t contribute to climate change
3. Low fuel costs

Question 9

State three disadvantages of nuclear
power.

Answer 9

1. Produces nuclear waste which is harmful to
   humans & must be safely stored for centuries.
2. Non-Renewable energy source
3. Risk of nuclear accidents, which have fatal
   consequences on humans and the
   environment

Question 10

How does hydroelectric power produce
energy?

Answer 10

●Rainwater collects behind a dam
●When this water is released, it is used
to turn a turbine
●This turbine turns a generator which
produces electricity

Question 11

What are some disadvantages of using
biofuels?

Answer 11

●When plants are burned or decay they release CO2
● In order to grow biofuels, you need to destroy land
which leads to problems because:
○ The land could have been natural habitats
○ Destroying land may involve burning plants growing
on it, which would release CO2
● Growing biofuels reduces the land available for growing
food

Question 12

What are the advantages of tidal energy
sources?

Answer 12

●They do not produce greenhouse gases
●They are quite reliable, as tides happen
twice a day
●They are cheap to run as tides are
natural, and so are free

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of
hydroelectric power?

Answer 13

●The dam may cause flooding
● It can cost a lot to install the required
infrastructure

Question 14

What are some advantages of solar
panels?

Answer 14

●They don’t cause harm to the
environment
●They are a renewable resource
●They can be used in remote areas where
other types of energy are less accessible

Question 15

Give examples of social factors which
may act as a deterrent for certain types
of energy production.

Answer 15

●Visual Pollution
●Sound Pollution
(both of these are disadvantages of wind farms)