Topic 1 - Origin of sustainability problem

Question 1

Outline the difference between a stock and a flow resource

Answer 1

Flow resources: no link between current use and future availability.

Stock resources: level of current use does affect future availability

Question 2

Outline: renewable resources

Answer 2

Biotic populations – flora and fauna: have potential to grow by natural reproduction

Question 3

Outline: non-renewable resources

Answer 3

Minerals, including the fossil fuels: no natural reproduction, except on geological timescales

Question 4

Outline the first law of thermodynamics

Answer 4

Energy can be neither created nor destroyed. It can only be converted from one form (chemical as in coal eg) to another (electricity)

Question 5

Outline the second law of thermodynamics

Answer 5

All energy conversions are in terms of available energy less than 100% efficient (not all of the energy in the coal becomes available as electricity). Implies that all energy conversions are irreversible