Topic One - Energy Flashcards
What is convection?
Where energy particles move away from hotter to cooler regions.
How can you prevent energy loss through heating?
- thick walls will low thermal conductivity gives slower rate of energy transfer.
- cavity walls have an air gap reducing energy transfer by conduction.
- cavity wall insulation is foam which reduces energy transfer via convection.
- loft insulation has pockets of trapped air which reduces energy loss by conduction and prevents the convection current.
- draught excluders reduce energy transfers by convection.
What are non-renewable energy resources?
Coal
Oil
Gas
What is non-renewable?
It will run out one day.
What are renewable energy resources?
Solar Wind Water Waves Tides Hydroelectricity Biofuel Geothermal
What is renewable?
Somethhing that can be replenished as it is used.
What sre the advantages and disadvantages of wind turbines?
Advantages
-no pollution
-no fuel costs and minimal running costs.
-no permanent damage to the landscape.
Disadvantages
-spoil the view
-they need more to generate the same amount of energy as non renewables.
-impossible to increase the supply in extra demand.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar cells?
Advantages
-useful in things that dont require alot of energy (watches, calculators)
-no pollution
-energy is free and running costs are low.
Disadvantages
-very reliable in sunny countries only in the daytime
-cant increase power output on extra demand.
-initial costs are high
-only generate electricity on a small scale.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of geothermal power?
Advantages
-free wnergy that is reliable with few environmental problems.
-can be used to generate electricity or heat a building directly.
Disadvantages
-only possible in volcanic areas where hot rocks lie near the surface.
-arent many suitable locations for it.
-cost for building the powerant is high compared to the energy it produces.
What is conduction?
Where vibrating particles transfer energy to the neighbouring particles.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of hydroelectric power?
Advantages
-no pollution
-using remote valley can reduce impact on humans
-immediate response to an increased demand of electricity
-useful to generate electricity on a small scale in remote places
Disadvantages
-big impact on the environment as rotting vegetation releases methane also may result in the loss of habitat for some species.
-unsightly when dried up.
-initial costs are high
What are the advantages and disadvantages of wave power?
Advantages -no pollution -no fuel costs and minimal running costs -can be very useful on small islands Disadvantages -disturbs the seabed -spoiling the view -hazard to boats -unreliable as waves tend to die out when the wind drops -unlikely to provide energy on a large scale
What are the advantages and disadvantages of tidal barrages?
Advantages
-no pollution
-reliable
-no fuel costs and minimal running costs
-can produce a significant amount of energy.
Disadvantages
-prevent free access of boats
-spoiling the view and altering the habitat
-it depends on the height of the tides as when they are lower they will produce significantly less energy.
-initial costs are moderately high
What are the advantages and disadvantages of biofuel?
Advantages
-carbon neutral
-reliable and crops take a short time to grow and can be grown all year round.
-can be stored for when they are needed
Disadvantages
-cannot respond to immediate energy demands
-cost for bio fuels are very high
-large areas of forest have been removed for biofuels to grow so species will lose their natural habitats
-the decay and burning increases carbon dioxide and methane emissions.
What are the problems with fossil fuels?
- coal, oil and gas release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which adds to the greenhouse effect and contributes to global warming.
- coal and oil release sulfur dioxide which caused acid rain which can be harmful to trees and soils.
- oil spillages cause environmental problems effecting species living around the sea.
- nuclear waste is dangerous and difficult to dispose of.
- coal mining can ruin the landscape.
