Physics Energy Resources

• What was the primary energy source for humans throughout most of history?

  Wood
• How has the primary energy source for humans changed over the past 200 years?

  Shift to non-renewable energy like coal, oil
• What term refers to coal, oil, and natural gas?


  Fossil fuels
• Which new generation of energy resources has seen a massive rise in the past 50 years?

  Renewable resources
• What are the primary sectors of energy consumption in the UK?

  Transport and domestic uses
• What fuels primarily power transport, like cars and planes?

  Petrol, diesel, and kerosene
• From which source are petrol, diesel and kerosene created?

  Oil
• What fuel traditionally powered trains and helped drive the industrial revolution?

  Coal
• How are most trains powered today?

  Electricity
• What type of fuels are created from renewable sources like plants?

  Biofuels
• Which energy source is mainly used for heating in domestic settings?

  Natural gas
• How is natural gas used for heating homes?

  Burnt to heat water, which heats radiators
• Besides natural gas, what other non-renewable source of heat is used in fireplaces?

  Coal
• How do solar water heaters work?

  Using sun's energy to heat water
• How can biofuels be used for heating?

  Burned to provide heat, similar to coal
• What determines if electricity is renewable or non-renewable?

  How it's generated
• According to the pie chart, what percentage of electricity in the UK comes from fossil fuels?

  Almost 60 percent
• What percentage of electricity in the UK comes from non-renewable resources?

  Nearly 80 percent
• Is nuclear energy a renewable energy source?

  No, it is non-renewable
• Can electricity be generated from non-renewable resources?

  Yes, it can
• Can electricity be generated from renewable resources?

  Yes, it can
• What are the non-renewable energy resources mentioned?

  Coal, natural gas, and nuclear fuels
• Why are non-renewable energy resources considered non-renewable?

  They will all run out one day
• What is a common method of extracting energy from non-renewable resources?

  They are typically burnt
• What is an environmental concern associated with non-renewable energy resources?

  They all do damage to the environment
• Why are fossil fuels considered non-renewable?

  They are not being made at the same rate
• What are some renewable energy resources?

  Wind, tides, water waves, hydroelectricity
• Name additional renewable energy resources.

  The Sun, geothermal, and bio-fuel
• Why are renewable energy resources considered renewable?

  They can be made at the same rate
• How does the environmental impact of renewable resources compare to that of non-renewable resources?

  Less nasty ways than non-renewables
• What is a disadvantage of renewable energy resources?

  Often don't provide as much energy
• What is the primary use of energy resources?

  To generate electricity
• What is a reliability issue associated with some renewable energy resources?

  They depend on the weather
• Besides electricity generation, what are two major uses of energy resources?

  Transport and heating
• What energy resources have traditionally been used for transportation?

  Non-renewable energy resources
• Name two fuels created from oil used to power vehicles.

  Petrol and diesel
• What was historically used in some steam trains to produce steam?

  Coal
• What type of energy resources are increasingly being used in transportation?

  Renewable resources
• How are bio-fuels used in vehicles?

  Pure or mixed with petrol
• What non-renewable resource is most widely used for heating homes in the UK?

  Natural gas