Unit 6-E

Question 1

What are the advantages of renewable energy?

Answer 1

No emissions at point of generation
Fuel is low cost
Little to no waste so minimal environmental damage
Can bring employment
Less maintenance than traditional generators.

Question 2

What are the disadvantages of renewable energy?

Answer 2

Difficult to generate large quantities so higher quantity needed
Some sources are not reliable as they are weather dependent
Energy cannot be stored in large quantities
More expensive than traditional generation

Question 3

How do wind turbines work?

Answer 3

Blades capture wind energy and turn a turbine to generate electricity.

Question 4

How does hydro power work?

Answer 4

Dams store water which is released to turn a turbine to generate electricity.

Question 5

How do solar voltaic panels work?

Answer 5

Photovoltaic cells turn sun’s energy directly into electricity.

Question 6

How does wave power work?

Answer 6

Kinetic energy of waves force air up into a cylinder to turn a turbine to generate electricity.

Question 7

How do tidal barrages work?

Answer 7

Barrages are built across estuaries, as the tide goes in and out the flow of water turns a turbine to generate electricity.

Question 8

How does geothermal power work?

Answer 8

Natural heat from the earth is used to heat water to produce steam, this steam turns a turbine to generate electricity.

Question 9

How does biomass power work?

Answer 9

Organic material is grown such as wood and is then burnt to heat water, steam then turns a turbine to generate electricity.

Question 10

What are the different types of renewable energy?

Answer 10

Wind
Hydro
Solar
Wave
Tidal
Geothermal
Biomass

Question 11

How can energy be used more efficiently in manufacturing?

Answer 11

Reducing waste
Process optimisation
Monitoring and management
Employee training.

Question 12

What is an energy management system?

Answer 12

A system which continuously monitors energy use to track performance and show areas which could be improved.

Question 13

When was the first industrial revolution?

Answer 13

Late 18th to early 19th century.

Question 14

When was the second industrial revolution?

Answer 14

Late 19th to early 20th century.

Question 15

When was the technological revolution?

Answer 15

Mid 20th century to present.

Question 16

When was the fourth industrial revolution?

Answer 16

The current era.

Question 17

What happened in the first industrial revolution?

Answer 17

Beginning of mechanisation (power loom)
Steam power
Coal as a fuel
Advances in steel and iron

Question 18

What happened in the second industrial revolution?

Answer 18

Widespread electricity
Mass production (Ford production line)
Transport advancements (railways, cars)

Question 19

What happened in the technological revolution?

Answer 19

Rise of electronics and computers
Internet
Aerospace
Robotics
Biotech

Question 20

What happened in the fourth industrial revolution?

Answer 20

Internet of things
Machine learning
Autonomous systems
Nanotech
Focus on renewable energy and sustainability

Question 21

What are the positive impacts of the industrial / technological age?

Answer 21

Global markets
New industries
Wealth
Reshaped class and living standards
Accelerated innovation

Question 22

What are the negative impacts of the industrial / technological age?

Answer 22

Deforestation
Pollution
Climate change.

Question 23

What are finite resources?

Answer 23

Resources which cannot be replenished within a useful timespan.

Question 24

What is strategic resource management?

Answer 24

Moving towards sustainable resource management to ensure long term availability of materials.

Question 25

What are the sustainable development goals?

Answer 25

17 goals set by the UN addressing global challenges Key in economic, social and environmental parts of sustainable development.

Question 26

How can data be used to help with sustainability?

Answer 26

Better forecasting, management and efficiency.

Question 27

What sort of efficiency measures help with energy conservation?

Answer 27

Upgrading to energy efficient appliances Energy efficient lighting Insulation

Question 28

How can behavioural changes help with energy conservation?

Answer 28

Turning off unused lighting Programmable thermostats

Question 29

How can materials be chosen to help with energy conservation?

Answer 29

Recyclable materials Green technologies

Question 30

How can energy cost affect production costs?

Answer 30

Direct costs - Higher cost to manufacture Operational efficiency - Energy intensive processes may become less cost effective.

Question 31

How can energy cost affect pricing strategies?

Answer 31

Cost pass-through Margin compression

Question 32

How can energy cost affect design and material choices?

Answer 32

Less energy intensive materials – could affect product features or quality Companies could invest in more efficient technology

Question 33

How can energy cost affect supply chains?

Answer 33

Transportation costs will rise Supplier costs will rise

Question 34

How can energy cost affect market competitiveness?

Answer 34

Regions with lower cost will have competitive advantage.

Question 35

How can energy cost affect sustainability considerations?

Answer 35

Higher prices can force companies into more efficient energy use.

Question 36

What are some examples of appropriate energy efficient technologies in practice?

Answer 36

Solar powered factories Water based cooling systems (over air) Biomimicry in design

Question 37

What are product miles?

Answer 37

Total distance travelled by a product from initial extraction of raw materials to final use.